Çré Vyäsa-Püjä April 2012

Çré Vyäsa-püjä April 2012

The Appearance Day of Our Beloved Spiritual Master His Holiness Kadamba Känana Swami

1 2 Contents Çré Vyäsa-püjä �� 1 “The Greatest Need of the Day” �� 7 The Meaning of Sri Vyasa-Puja �� 9 Kadamba Kanana Swami offering to Srila Prabhupada 2011 ��11 Offerings ��13

Ädikartä Däsa...... 15 Ganna...... 29

Arjuna Däsa ...... 16 Gauraväëé Däsé...... 30

Arundhaté Devi Däsé ...... 18 Girivaradhäré Däsa and Prema Mayé Devi Däsé and kids...... 30 Bahuläçva Däsa ...... 18 Gisela Mohanlal...... 31 Bali Mardan Däsa...... 19 Gopälé Däsé...... 31 Bhakta Danca & Family �� 20 Gour Mohan Däsa...... 32 Bhakta Frank...... 20 Gurudäsa...... 35 Bhakta Ondrej...... 21 Haàsa Avatar Däsa...... 35 Bhakta Rory...... 22 Hemäìga Caitanya Däsa & Smita Kåñëa Bharadväja Däsa ...... 22 Devi Däsé...... 36

Caittya-Guru Däsa...... 23 Hina...... 37

Campakalatä Devi Däsé �� 24 Ikñväku Däsa...... 38

Dahani Devi Däsé...... 24 Irma...... 39

Darpan...... 24 Janamajaya Däsa...... 39

Dharmänanda Däsa...... 26 Jananiväsa Däsa...... 40

Doyäl Govinda Däsa...... 26 Jay Keçava Däsa...... 42

Dvarkadéça Däsa...... 27 Jai Nitäi Däsa...... 44

Eurika...... 28 Kalävaté Devi Däsé...... 46

3 Kasturé maïjaré Devi Däsé �� 47 Puruñottama-kñetra Däsa ��69

Keçava Mädhava Däsa...... 48 Rädhä-känta Däsa...... 71

Kåñëa Balaräm Däsa...... 48 Räjaçekhara Däsa...... 71

Kåñëa Caitanya Däsa...... 50 Revaté Devi Däsé...... 72

Kåñëa Kértan Däsa...... 50 Ñaòbhuja Däsa...... 74

Kåñëasmaraëaà Däsa...... 51 Samira en Raimond...... 75

Loka Säkñé Däsa...... 52 Sanätané Devé Däsé...... 76

Madhukänta Däsa...... 52 Sevä-kuïja Devé Däsé...... 76

Madhu Pandit Däsa...... 53 Smita Kåñëa Devi Däsé...... 77

Mahäjana Däsa...... 53 Sukhayanti Devi Däsé...... 78

Manadäyiné Devi Däsé...... 54 Sukumäré Devi Däsé...... 80

Maëi Kuëòala Devi Däsé �� 56 Sutapä Däsa...... 81

Manu Däsa and family...... 56 Svayam Bhagavän Däsa ��81

Manukanyä Devi Däsé...... 57 Ter Kadamba Däsa...... 82

Marina Walter...... 58 Thirushnee Melissa Govender 83

Marko...... 58 Tulasé Däsa...... 83

Merudevi Däsé...... 60 Tuñöa Kåñëa Däsa...... 84

Näma-rüpa Devi Däsé...... 62 Ubrie...... 86

Navadvépa Däsa...... 63 Vasudeva Däsa...... 86

Päda-paìkaja Däsa...... 64 Vasumän Däsa...... 87

Palékä Devé Däsé and Pada Kamala 65 Viñëupriyä Devé Däsé...... 88

Parama karuëa Däsa...... 65 Viçvambara Caitanya Däsa ��89

Parameçvara Däsa...... 66 Yamunä Devi Däsé...... 89

Pärijäta Devi Däsé...... 66 Yudhiñöhira Däsa...... 90

Premalatä Devi Däsé ...... 68

4 5 6 “The Greatest Need of the Day”

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, Caitanya-Caritamrita Madhya-lila 15.41

This is Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu’s order to all His devotees. Kåñëa-bhakti, devotion to Kåñëa, is open to everyone, even low-class men like caëòälas. One should follow this order in the disciplic succession stemming from Çré Advaita and Nityänanda Prabhu and distribute Kåñëa consciousness without discrimination throughout the world.

There are different kinds of men, beginning with the brähmaëa and going down to the lowest platform, known as caëòäla. Whatever one’s position, everyone in this Age of Kali needs to be enlightened in Kåñëa consciousness. That is the greatest need of the day. Everyone is acutely feeling the pangs of material existence. Even in the ranks and files of the American Senate, the pinpricks of material existence are felt, so much so that April 30, 1974, was actually set aside as Prayer Day. Thus everyone is feeling the resultant pinpricks of Kali-yuga brought about by human society’s indulging in illicit sex, meat-eating, gambling and intoxi- cation. Now is the time for the members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness to distribute kåñëa-bhakti all over the world and thus follow the orders of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu. The Lord has ordered everyone to become a guru (Cc. Madhya 7.128): ämära äjïäya guru haïä tära’ ei deça. Everyone in every town and village should be enlightened by the instructions of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu. Kåñëa consciousness should be distributed to everyone indiscriminately. In this way, the entire world will be peaceful and happy, and everyone will glorify Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu, as He desires.

The word caëòäla actually refers to a dog-eater, who is considered the lowest of men. Even caëòälas can be enlightened in Kåñëa consciousness due to Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu’s benedictions. Kåñëa-bhakti is not the monopoly of a certain caste. Everyone is eligible to receive this great benediction given by Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu. Everyone should be given a chance to receive it and be happy.

The word däna, meaning “charity,” is also significant in this verse. Whoever engages in the distribution of Kåñëa consciousness is a charitable person. Professional men recite Çrémad-Bhägavatam and discuss kåñëa- bhakti for an exchange of money. They cannot distribute such exalted transcendental property to everyone and anyone. Only pure devotees, who have no motive other than serving Kåñëa, can give such transcenden- tally valuable benedictions out of charity.

7 8 The Meaning of Sri Vyasa-Puja

By Sadbhuja Das The appearance day of the spiritual master is most auspicious, giving us the opportunity to connect deeper with Krishna in the proper mindset of going through the Guruparampara, that comes down to us like a helping hand that we can hold on to. Like a manifestation of Krishna’s mercy, tangible and approachable.

The spiritual master is the representative of Krishna, the one with whom we can practice the right behavior and get a direct reciprocation. To glorify the spiritual master gives us purification, realization and a lot of mercy, since we are putting ourselves again in the right position, the right understanding and attitude. Follow- ing this, Bhaktisiddanta Sarasvati writes in the Chaitanya Bhagavat:

“The Worship of Guru and Vaishnavas is more important than the worship of the Supreme Lord.”

Quite a bold statement to make for a spiritual master. It shows that the relationship we have with the spiritual master shouldn’t be seen on the material level. Srila Prabhupada writes in the Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.22.47:

“In the material world, a servant serves the master as long as the servant is pleased and as long as the master is pleased. The servant is pleased as long as the master pays, and the master is pleased as long as the servant renders good service. However, in the spiritual world, if the servant cannot serve under certain conditions, the master is still pleased. And if the master does not pay, the servant is also pleased. That is called Oneness, absolute…. This is a spiritual relationship. There are no cheaters and cheated in such a relationship”

In the Srimad Bhagavatam 11.5.3. Purport Vishvanath Chakravati Thakur is quoted in pointing out that:

“the original cause of offending the Lord and falling down from ones position is not learning how to properly worship a bonafide spiritual master. Without mercy of guru even religious man will gradually become atheistic, offend the Lord by foolish speculation and fall in a hellish condition of life.”

This quote is not there to scare someone or make us act out of fear, but to give an insight of the dynamics in this world and how essential the worship of Sri Guru is to our spiritual progress. We are all more than fortunate, to get the opportunity to serve and worship such a spiritual master. To share our hearts is also a wonderful way not just to connect with our spiritual master but also with all of our god sisters and brothers. In this way we can all benefit each other and get inspiration, insight and appreciation.

Thank you for all your sincere offerings of love. Thank you for sharing your innermost thoughts and feelings

9 10 Kadamba Kanana Swami offering to Srila Prabhupada 2011

Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Your Divine Grace.

You brought all the wealth of the spiritual world—in your person, in the holy name, in your books, and in the form of your movement. Now I desire to go back to Godhead, and this material world looks bleak.

But you showed that preaching transforms the material into the spiritual world. Now I am excited to see Gauräìga touch people’s lives everywhere; I want to be a better instrument of that ood of mercy. Now the world transforms into Vaikuëöha, and we are becoming Vaikuëöha men and women. You have turned crows into swans.

May I do something to repay you.

Your servant, Kadamba Känana Swami

11 12 Offerings

13 14 Ädikartä Däsa Diener. Dass nehmen alle offenbarten Schriften an und dem folgen alle Autoritäten nach. Daher neige Ich mich nama om visnu-pádáya krsna prestháya bhú-tale dem Lotosfüssen solches spirituellen srímate kadamba kánana svámin iti námine Meisters, des echten Sri Haris (Krisnas) Repräsentanten. nama om visnu-pádáya krsna-prestháya bhú-tale guru dasa jayadvaita svámin iti námine O mein Meister, obwohl ich es nicht würdig bin, doch darf ich Tag täglich nama om visnu-pádáya krsna-prestháya bhú-tale ganz deutlich wahrnehmen, dass Ihre srímate bhaktivedánta-svámin iti námine unendliche grundlose Barmherzigkeit, dieses hell strahlendes Licht voller namas te sárasvate deve gaura-vání-pracárine Transzendenz, ununterbrochen immer nirvisesa-súnyavádi-páscátya-desa-tárine über meinem Dasein wach bleibt. Unter diesen Umständen kann ich so Lieber Guru Maharaja, inzwischen anderem, auch zu verstehen lernen, wohin alle die Gottlosigkeit, Nehmen Sie bitte meine achtungsvollen mit der man stets umgeben ist, Ehrerbietungen im Staub Ihren eigentlich führen muss. Sie machen Lotosfüssen an. Alle Ehre sei an Ihrer mir allmählich die Augen auf, so Heiligkeit. Alle Ehre sei an Sri wie allen Lebewessen, die das Glück Gauranga. Alle Ehre sei an Ihrem Guru hatten, mindestens einmal, auch wenn Maharaja Srila Guru Dasa Jayadvaita sie nur ein Augenblick lang sich in Swami. Alle Ehre sei an Srila Ihrer Nähe verhalten durften und so Prabhupáda. kann ich das Leben in der materiellen Welt als eine ständige Belehrung Zu der äußerst glückverheißenden auffassen. Die materiell bedingte Seele Gelegenheit Ihrer Vyasa-Puja, die in der modernen Gesellschaft, dank schon bald zu der Offenbarung eilt, ihr weiterhin zunehmenden Vergessen möchte Ich Ihnen ein paar Zeilen als der Höchsten Persönlichkeit Gottes, Offering schreiben. verfällt immer mehr den allmöglichen wahnsinnigen Taten. Wie kann man der säkñäd-dharitvena samasta-çästrair Meinung sein, das all der Unsinn zu uktas tathä bhävyata eva sadbhiù einer ewigen Glückseligkeit führen kintu prabhor yaù priya eva tasya mag. Viel mehr, durch seine sinnlose vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam Tätigkeiten, verursacht das bedingte Lebewessen ein reines Unglück nicht Der spirituelle Meister sollte verehrt nur sich selbst, aber auch den allen werden, ebenso wie der Höchste Herr, anderem. Das ist ein weiterer Grund denn er ist Sein äußerst vertraulicher dazu, am aufrichtigsten wie möglich,

15 mein Leben weiter zu führen. Die demütigtest möchte ich Ihre Lotosfüsse, professionellen Betrüger laden stets die Lotosfüsse eines echten auch die ganze Gesellschaft auf ihre spirituellen Meisters ununterbrochen Schiffe ein, die manchmal ein ähnlichen verehren und daher neige ich mich Ihnen Namen tragen kennen wie Titanic. Das stets erneut und auch bringe Ihnen Ergebnis so einer „Glückreiße“ ist meine achtungsvollen Ehrerbietungen immer dasselbe. Durch Ihre grundlose dar. Güte Sind Sie immer bereit ein jeden auf den Weg, der über den Ozean des In Ihrem Dienst Ihr ewiger Schuldner materiellen Daseins führt, einzuladen. und unansehnlicher Schüller Ihr Schiff wird unter keinen Umständen einer Zerstörung ausgestellt, trotz Ädikartä Däsa manchmal riesigen Wellen und Stürmen der Gewässer des Meeres des materiellen Unglücks. Als Echtem Vertreter des Arjuna Däsa Höchsten Herren wird Ihnen keinesfalls Ihre Anführung solches transzendentalen Hare Krishna lieber Guru Maharaja, Wasserfahrzeuges verloren gehen und ein Jeder, der durch Ihre grundlose bitte akzeptiere meine demütigen Gnade, im Schatten Ihren Lotusfüssen Ehrerbietungen. Alle Ehre sei Srila die Zuflucht suchen darf, wird sicher Prabhupada und H.H. Jayadvaita den Ozean der materiellen Existenz Maharaja. überqueren zu kennen. Ich möchte Dir hiermit dafür danken, yasya prasädäd bhagavat-prasädo daß Du mich als dein Schüler angenommen yasyäprasädän na gatiù kuto ‚pi hast. Du hast mir damit sehr viele dhyäyan stuvaàs tasya yaças tri-sandhyaà Segnungen gegeben. Ich fühle mich vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam Dir gegenüber verpflichtet, aber ich bin leider zurzeit nicht in der Lage Durch die Barmherzigkeit des Deinen Anweisungen 100% zu folgen. Ich spirituellen Meisters gewinnt man würde Dich gern zufrieden stellen, Krisnas Segnung. Ohne seine Gnade gibt aber es fällt mir nicht leicht. Ich es keine Möglichkeit ein Fortschritt chante täglich 16 Runden und esse kein zu bestehen. Daher sollte man sich Fleisch, kein Fisch und keine Eier. stets im Gedanken bei ihm verhalten, Ich rauche aber Zigaretten, manchmal ihn lobpreisen und mindestens drei trinke ich Bier und manchmal unerlaubte mall täglich sich ehrfürchtig seinem Sexualität mit meiner Freundin. Ich Lotosfüssen verneigen. habe immer ein schlechtes Gewissen. Ich weiß, daß diese Dinge mir nicht gut Mit größter Dankbarkeit und äußerst tun, aber ich bin wie gefangen.

16 17 Whenever I have the possibility to meet you I Ich würde mir wünschen, mit Dir in feel so much inspired to go on in my devotional Kontakt zu bleiben und bin auf deine life. Observing how enthusiastically you lead Hilfe angewiesen. Danke für alles. kirtans, listening to your very deep seminars and lectures and seeing how nice contact you have with Dein Diener the devotees, I am so happy and thankful that you accepted me as your diciple. I know I am not worth Arjuna dasa it, it is just your causless mercy that you have me sheltered at your lotus-feet. And honestly speaking I feel very spiritually protected by you. Arundhaté Devi Däsé

I, myself, cannot find in my heart the real inspiration Dear Guru Maharaja, for serving the LORDSHIPS, I have to ask you for your blessings that something deep can start Please accept my most humble obeissances to your growing in me so that others can be inspired by my lotus feet. All Glories to Jayaidvata Swami! All glories sincere attempts to serve. Oh my spiritual master, to Srila Prabhupada! please help me that I can serve you and the mission

with my full heart. And please bless me with spiritual Yet another year has passed by and when I look realizations and preaching shakti. back, what can I mention? Still I am doing my best to support the mission. But is this enough? Still I Your disciple, can observe that I am doing my service mainly mechanically and so often I forget that I should Arundhaté Devi Däsé serve for your pleasure and for the pleasure of the Lord, not for my own benefit and enjoyment!!! Bahuläçva Däsa Being a devotee is not so easy as I thought in the beginning. The longer I live a Krishna-consciouss life Dear Kadamba Kanana Swami. the more I realize how important it is for me to have a deep contact with you, with Srila Prabhupada nama om visnu-pádáya krsna prestháya bhú-tale and with all the devotees. Now the time has come srímate kadamba kánana svámin iti námine for me to inspire others, new beginners and to make deep relationships with devotees, care for nama om visnu-pádáya krsna-prestháya bhú-tale them and live as a good example. Here in Govindas guru dasa jayadvaita svámin iti námine in Göteborg, we are not so many devotees and few spiritual masters are passing by. Thus I realize Please accept my humble obesiances that I really have to root myself in the process All glories to Shrila Prabhupad so that I can give it out to others and in this way All glories to Jayadvaita Swami help to build up an inspiring community here. All glories to Kadamba Kanana Swami

18 Shrila Prabhupada gave us Krishna as a person with all his unbelievable qualities. Before I didn’t know So I have this hope, because I have a little attraction anything about God, at least I didn’t know anything for Krishna, and there is also this little attraction about the personality Krishna. for association with the devotees. This is my hope that I always will stay in the association with the Prabhupad wakened my interest for a God as a great devotees of this ISKCON community. Their person, and to whom I could interact with. I could great qualities will hopefully also in due course of never have developed that attraction for Krishna and time spill over on me. I always won’t to develop his associates without Prabhupads books. And the this attraction and remembrance on Krishna and his amazing thing is that it’s still very available because associates. Maharaj , you give me this opportunity of the hard work that all his followers are doing. ,you invite to this association. Maybe I don’t take full advantages of it because of my ignorance. And I Prabhupad also show by his example how a disciple am slow in my nature but I always want to be your always wants to please his guru. His followers was disciple, no matter what happens. I beg you to not so transformed by his association that many just forget me and to always be my guru take up Krishna consciousness from one day to another. Some just come to the Temple and mowed Your servant, in the other day. And by your presents in my life I also have been transformed, not the quick way that Bahuläçva Däsa that they did, but still the process is working.

Bali Mardan Däsa Shrila Prabhupada gave such an enormous task of truly welfare work to all living beings, to his Dear Guru Maharaj, disciples and you Maharaj and your Guru Jayadvaita Swami are just continuing this great task. You are Please accept my humble obeisances always thinking of how to engage yourself and All glories to Srila Prabhupada your disciples in this service. And also how we All glories to Jayadvaita Maharaja can continue as devotees, and make progress as devotees, and purify our self as devotees. Maharaj my life has been ups and downs, often feeling down and depressed, but by listening to your By your example I get so much inspiration and classes I feel great hope and light at the end of the encouragement to become a devotee and to play tunnel. I feel that I am not alone but that you are same part in this wonderful mission. Without S.P always there with me, giving me faith. who took Chaitanyas sankirtan mission to the rest of the world, we would have been totally lost here I go to town to do books most days, and they are in maya, without any hope. Of course there is generally the good days due to your blessings and always this anxiety, am I doing enough, how much the books are going out. I am trying to make friends more do I have to improve, will I be serious enough and give Krishna to the people I meet. I am also .Do I want to surrender completely? trying to serve devotees to the best of my ability.

19 Bhakta Frank You travel around the world without any consideration of personal comfort, preaching Dear Kadamba Kanana Swami, the mission of Lord Caitanya and the message of Srila Prabhupada. Anything good in my Krishna Please accept my humble obeisances. Consciousness is happening due to your causeless All glories to Srila Prabhupada! mercy. When you came to Leicester I had an All glories to Jayadvaita Swami! opportunity to cook for you and try to serve you as best as I could. Please forgive me for any mistakes in The following words are meant for Your glorification my services to you. but because I am very much fallen and a complete dumb, it will not be able to reach even a tinge of I feel I am eternally indebted to you for your Your glories. Please forgive me all my offenses and kindness. shortcomings that I’ve committed against Your lotus feet and please accept what I tried to express. Your servant, Sure enough I’d now sit as a drunkard under other Bali Mardan Däsa drunkards after work while eating fast food meat and ogling the waitress into their décolleté making jokes at her expenses. I would suffer really strongly! Bhakta Danca & Family

But by Your divine mercy I’m now tasting the higher Hare Krishna Dear Maharaja, taste of life - devotional life. I’m now relieved of this big pain not to know how to spend my time Please accept my humble obeisances properly. All glories to Srila Prabhupada All glories to Jayadvaita Swami Like You are setting the example also Your disciples All glories to you are travelling around in order to make new Devotees. One picked me up in my dark hellish well May you enlighten with your torch the path leading and gave me the glimpse of Your lotus feet. These back home for more and more souls. May you lotus feet are able to lead the path back the the lectures always so wonderfully help all to remember spiritual realm. Leading the path to the bright shining forgotten knowledge. May your nectarean kirtans pasture grounds of Vrindavan. flare up the flame of love of Krishna.

This material world consists mainly of distress and With humility and gratitude for all, the mirage of happiness. Nothing and no one is really reliable and knows more than “going further Hopefully someday your disciple, and further” in trying to enjoy what is not at all relishable. I almost had given up the idea that I’ll find Bhakta Danca with family, (Czech Republic) a person who really knows more about life. Who

20 can teach me things which I’m not able to learn on I cannot really conceive what this dimension of faith my own way anyway. Interested in a medicine to in guru means in practice, besides the fact that I’m cure the worlds disease, I almost had given up hope. sure not being there myself.

Normally, in the materialistic way of life people are As a part of the Gaudiya-Madhva Sampradaya and offering so many different possibilities how they therefore a representative of Krishna, You are giving would change the world. But there is no practical a zombie like me the causeless mercy also being evidence, not even in their life-style, that they’re linked to this “stairway to heaven”. actually knowing “something more”. Therefore I’m thankful, and try to serve You, well tad viddhi praëipätena knowing that this is just a joke in comparison to paripraçnena sevayä what You are giving to me. Fully astounded and upadekñyanti te jïänaà deeply moved I fall down for paying my humble jïäninas tattva-darçinaù obeisances to You.

As I met You, I could see that You are very much Finally I would like to express my hope that the different in this regard. You are obviously living blamable service that I try to render unto Your what You are preaching. You are kind, You are lotus feet is enough to deepen our relationship. affectionate, You are forgiving, You know how Please bless me, so that I can always remain in to deal with the people in this humble way that the association of Your disciples to relish their everyone is pleased even with straight answers. glorifications of Your divine wisdom and having the It is very easy for me to see that what You are opportunity to serve them. proposing as solutions for ones problems is founding in the honest and deep wish for the relieve of Your servant, suffering and improvement in devotional life of Your protégé. You are giving all You have. What is really Bhakta Frank revolutionary - in my experience no one gives, everyone just takes, like me. Bhakta Ondrej You are a tattva-darsinah, You see the truth, You’ve fully realized that Krishna is our only hope. As a Dear Gurumaharaj! living example of having faith in the guru You are following his footsteps strictly and without any Please accept my humble obeisances. compromises. You yourself say that you are “proud of believing that Your guru is a pure devotee”. I very All glories to HDG Srila Prabhupada! much like this, because it hits exactly what I am All glories to HH Jayadvaita Swami! hankering for. All glories to You!

But as I am in the very beginning of my spiritual life, On this auspicious day let me express my deeepest gratitude for the mercy you bestow on us. I rather

21 don‘t imagine where I would be without your a clean, fresh new begin kind guidance. Your lectures are my daily guide, support and inspiration. I greatly appreciate the I offer my obeisances to the valuable opportunity you kindly gave me during words from Your Lotus Mouth your last visit in Czech, when I was allowed to Which destroys my maya ad ignorance serve you personally a little. Then I could see very and dispels all my doubts closely how demanding and physically exhausting Which increases my love devotion your daily service is. Still you persistently continue and service mentality with powerful preaching and constant travelling You are my Lord birth after birth around the world in order to assist Lord Caitanya for all eternity in delivering us fallen souls. Your day to day activities are amazing and for common man truly I offer my humble obeisances unfeasible. Your life is the proof of how the desire at Your Lotus Eyes to please the spiritual master and Srila Prabhupada Which purifies and encourages me empowers one to perform unbelievable deeds. You and causes ahankaras demise follow unshakeably in their footsteps and thus set Its loving chastisement are perfect the perfect example for us to become the same in every single way staunch followers of our spiritual master as you. At It says so much more my present level it is just wishful thinking. Please then I‘ll ever be able to say bless me to have at least one hundredth of your enthusiasm and dedication, so that I can become nama om visnu-pádáya krsna prestháya bhú-tale useful and helpful to you in pursuing your mission srímate kadamba kánana svámin iti námine within Srila Prabhupada‘s ISKCON. I cannot thank you enough for giving me shelter in this wonderful Bhakta Rory transcendental society.

Bharadväja Däsa Your aspiring servant,

Dear Kadamba Kanana Swami, Bhakta Ondrej

Please accept my low obeisance at the dust of Your Bhakta Rory lotus feet. All glories to Your divine grace. I offer my humble obeisances All glories to Your spiritual master Jay Advaita at Your Lotus Feet Swami. For giving me a chance All glories to the most merciful Srila Prabhupada. to escape births repeat All glories to the Sankirtan mission of the Lord For showing me how to live Caitanya. and be free from sin For giving me what I‘ve always needed Allow me, that I should also this very auspicious

22 and fortunate day on occasion of Your Vyasapuja, the devotees and Bengali mamas in Narsingdi who to add my expression of thanks for all You have received us so very personal with much affection done and still tirelessly do for our rescue and that and care. The ecstatic motorcycle-kirtan and the You mercifully tolerate our deficits. I want to thank welcome-party in Shylet with limit breaking kirtans. You for Your mercy that I certainly can´ t never pay In Pundarik Dham at Vasudev and Mukunda dattas back. Without You and Your inspiration I should bhajan kutir there were hundreds or thousands of surely eternally drown in never-ending ocean of birds gathering in the trees, who just continued material energy constantly attacked by three modes chirping and singing in ecstasy when your joyful of material nature. So I at least have a chance. kirtan and our dancing had already ended. Every day Although we can sometimes experience hard times made a deep impression and offered a taste of Sri even so I´d like to be permanently engaged in Caitanya Mahaprabhus magic. activity that pleases You, because that is the only way how to get Krishna´ s mercy. Thank You with In every place where we met local Vaishnavas you all heart that You show me the way and give my asked the assembly to bless us and to kindly bestow life a sense. Please give me Your blessings I should upon us from their spiritual merit. Giving yourself to never leave the association of devotees and I could them in powerful, long and sweet kirtan and sincere always serve Your lotus feet. Dear Kadamba Kanana reciprocation and addresses in Bengali surprised and Swami, a lot of strong constitution, good fortune bound your audience. In this way you opened door and infinite mercy wish after door for us.

You a servant of Your servant, We gained so much! The spiritual Master is the owner of the wealth of the disciple. May I be able to Bharadväja Däsa grow and offer back whatever possible by spreading it. May I eventually become a preaching tool!

Caittya-Guru Däsa I think my strongest enemy is pride. My heart is steel and I suffer in separation. I think I am special, Dear Kadamba Kanana Swami, having a superior taste and maturity. I see myself as a master, and think anyone would be benefitted Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to asking me for direction. I only play humility and Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Jayadvaita Swami. friendliness to be accepted by you and the society and to have my senses safely gratified. My mind has I amongst others had the opportunity to accompany grown big and old with pride. When will I say no! to you on your recent Bangladesh pilgrimage. It was an pride? excellent spiritual experience. I could whitness your strong determination to serve for the pleasure of I noticed that by the influence of your presence it is your spiritual masters and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu natural for me to gradually give up my fear of being and your surrender to the service of the Vaishnavas. not accepted and not loved. I trust that you have no personal motive. I want to overcome my impurities, Every day we had great experiences like meeting

23 I depend on your association! Dahani Devi Däsé

In Kirtan you are grave, determined to sure enough AN OCEAN OF NECTAR reach out to the storehouse of love of god. Single- mindedly you pull forward with great strength while There is an ocean of nectar others like me though sitting by are sleeping, hardly Which I have found recently able to follow with the melody. On the shores of Srila Prabhupada’s continent. Its waves are moving to and fro Contemplating I see I need to change a lot, far In the rythm of constant chanting. away am I from being a reliable servant. Far away That magnificent ocean is You. from the oasis that is Nishta, where the road goes downhill and is beautified with true Krishna Those who relish Consciousness. I must increase my reading to a Just a drop of that ocean steady, sound level. Otherwise also my chanting can Become immediately infected not become deep and clear. Maharaja, please note With desire to serve, chant my prayer to be changed. Please allow me to have And sing from their hearts. your association again. Such is the mercy of the Lord – Your servant, He connected us, the most fortunate thirsty ones, With You, with that ocean, Caittya-Guru Däsa Thus blessing us with divine association And granting us such a joy. Campakalatä Devi Däsé Thank you for cleansing our hearts With Your divine waters. Hare Krishna Swami Kadamba , All glories to You!

All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Dahani Devi Däsé

Do hope you will accept my humble offering, just to tell you, how happy I am you accepted me as your Darpan diciple, and have always given me inspiration, and courage to continue the beautiful and sometimes Dear Kadamba Kanana Swami lonely roads of Krishna Conciense.

Please accept my humble obeisances Thank You, thank you, thank you!!!!!!!!!!

The day I was brought to Krishna Consciousness I Hare Krishna, was under shelter, because your classes and kirtans are great. You are kind, humble and respectful. I Campakalatä Devi Däsé

24 25 had an amazing time when you came to Leicester. It seems that people are less and less interested Please come again, you are the dearest in the world, in spiritual life and in Krsna-consciousness. At and I would like to be your youngest disciple, Heidelberg we are still in the same area with the same apartment with almost the same guests and Your servant, devotees.

Darpan (Leicester, UK) The wonderful thing is that there is at least the possibility of preaching the message of the Lord and due to Your mercy we can continue and my Dharmänanda Däsa wife and myself find the strength to be there and celebrate a Sunday feast every week. Looking Hare Krishna Your Holiness Kadamba Kanana at Your travel plan I can only speak out my deep Swami, respect for You and Your dedication. Being so much indebted to You it is also our duty to represent You Please accept my humble obeisances in our area and preach Krsna-consciousness, but I do not want to perform it as an act of duty, I like to To my father, I wish you all the best on your vyas do it as an act of appreciation and love for You. In puja day. Love and Haribol from your loving son, the 6th chapter of the Nectar of Devotion the 3rd point is to obey the orders of the spiritual master Dharmänanda Däsa (Adelaide, Australia) and have faith in those. I do not obey Your orders, ok we do have another Ratha Yatra this year, but the outreach preaching is still far away, so only due Doyäl Govinda Däsa to Your kindness I am able to continue my service and I can meditate on my future tasks that finally I Hare Krishna dear Maharaja, can obey Your orders one day. Anyway I still ask:”

Dear guru maharaja, how can I serve You? What Please accept my most humble obeisances. can I do for You? What can I do more for You?” My All glories to Srila Prabhupada, all glories to plan is to get more and more involved in preaching Jayadvaita Maharaja. activities and dedicating my life to the mission. I am

a person who plans a lot and as an advantage I have I was just reading last years offering and similar to made the framework for my future looking well the year 2011, again I feel happy writing for You an ahead. I pray that I can inspire my wife and child, offering for that wonderful event. my community and many people I will meet. There is a nice prayer which says:” My dear Lord please On the one hand time is flying and there is a let me radiate spiritual love and peace to the whole constant flow of energy and always changes. On world.” the other hand with my very very limited view I cannot see changes especially in my behaviour, Another prayer addressing Lord Caitanya says: “I am my false attachments to this material world, my a fallen soul and You are the savior of the fallen, on shortcomings and changes in my preaching field.

26 the strength of this relationship I am begging from and Madhai You the nectar of the Holy Name.” nagara-kirtana-simha – You are the lion of congregational chanting Only by Your blessings and mercy I am able to suddha-nama-pracaraka – the topmost preacher of maintain my dedication, You are also the savior of the pure Holy Name the fallen and on the strength of our relationship I krpa-sindhu – an ocean of mercy am begging from You to become Your servant. parivraja-siromani – You are Himself the crest-jewel of all wandering renunciates Please see below 27 names describing Your divine bauddha-jain-mayavadi-kutarka-khandana - the qualities: refuter of the atheistic arguments of the Buddhists, Jains and Mayavadis mahaprabhu – You are also Mahaprabhu, the rathagra-nartaka – You danced exuberantly in front greatest master of all living entities of the Jagannatha cart during Ratha Yatra sudhakara – the source of all nectar vrndavanananda-murti – You are the personification natabara – the best of all dancers of the bliss of the transcendental realm of Vrindavan namananda – You become restless and blissful upon prema-data – You are the bestower of love of God hearing the Holy Names of Lord Hari markata-vairagi-dandi – the chastiser of the false capala balaka – in Your boyhood pastimes You are renunciates swift and agile a-candala-trata – You are the savior of everyone tarki – You are the greatest logician down to the lowest class of men. kautukanurakta – You are greatly fond of joking and vrindavana-bhava-vibhora – You constantly remain playing pranks overwhelmed with the ecstatic moods of Vrindavana tairthika-sarvasva – You are the cynosure of all kali-yuga-pavana – the supreme purifier of the philosophers degraded age of Kali. bhumi-desa-hara – during Your travels You remove all the distress of mother earth Your servant, arya-dharma-pala – You are the preserver of Doyäl Govinda Däsa sanatana-dharma jayadvaita-sisya – You accepted Jayadvaita Maharaja as Your spiritual master Dvarkadéça Däsa madhvacarya-sampradaya-pata – You are the Dear Srimad Kadamba Kanana Swami Gurumaharaja protector and maintainer of the Brahma-Madhva- Gaudiya sampradaya All glories to Srila Prabhupada, Jayadvaita Swami and krsna-namonmatta – You become madly intoxicated to You by tasting the nectar of the Holy Name of Krsna krsna-tattva-adhyapaka – You are the ultimate Please forgive my inability to properly glorify You professor of the science of Krsna consciousness and even trying is a challenge for me – grasping the jagai-madhai-adi durvritta-tarana – You are the size of the ocean is difficult for a fool with a puddle- deliverer of all sorts of rogues and rascals like Jagai like ken. On the other side it gives me so much

27 pleasure to meditate about Your personality that i master and Srila Prabhupada is the Rock in my thank You again for engaging me as Your disciple. life: Heavy - Not a heavy burden, instead a fixed solution, a strong backup, a shelter - a saving grace. In midst the stormy weather the people flee and hide. They try to get relieve and move the heavy So in my life every step is a decision and although weight from one shoulder to the other. Even the old habits try to force me, never is there a chance saints and sages are eager to escape the tribulations to avoid the responsibility. Please reprimand and of this world, still they are selfish and their endeavor plaster me with service and be assured that I try to is troublesome and fruitless – only the devotee serve You with heart and soul. who fully surrenders his existence unto the lotus feet of Krishna is safe and unshaken. You are such Your eternal servant, a dedicated servant, wholeheartedly available, so for me, You are the saving umbrella. Storms may Dvarkadéça Däsa blow – I hold on to You. Huge bodies of water may fall from all sides – Your vani extends to a breath that safe me from getting wet. When the burning Eurika sun arises - Your example is spending shade. If dangerous arguments attack – Your words unfold Hare Krishna, a security shield - and most enlivening – Your deep personality as a kindhearted master is an Please accept my humble obeisances. umbrella which I hold on to and fly with the wind of All glories to our Savior Srila Prabhupada! inspiration ……and relish devotional service as an All glories to His Holiness Jayadvaita Swami Maharaj adventurous breeze – how far will it go… Dear Kadamba Kanana Swami Maharaj To remember Your glories I learned this nice sloka: I am sitting here, listening to the secrets of the rain, tad-vijïänärthaà sa gurum eväbhigacchet trying to put down on paper the thoughts of my samit-päëiù çrotriyaà brahma-niñöham heart. Is it even possible to put down what I am feeling? I am stuck. But then I remember, what is Unlimited are Your glories in sacrificing everything it that Maharaj is teaching me, over and over again. for Krsna, the devotees and embarrassing enough Firm faith. Think of Krishna, never forget our sweet even to the one who try’s but fail even in the simple lord. Take shelter. Hence, I apply your teachings, task to collect the fuel. My strong desire is to and off course, the attempt to honor you begins. contribute to Your preaching and looking for people helping nourish that fire. So as I sit here, the rain not even wanting to subside, I listen carefully and then I realize. Your mercy, This it was stands out for me – even in times of your mercy is like the rain. As the rain purifies and trouble, hours of lamentation and moments of washes away the dust on barren land, it brings doubt – the gift of a relationship to You, Your with it the energy for new growth to flourish. As such, your mercy, your words, inspiration, and your

28 instructions, they all wash away my misgivings and Thank you for taking time to encourage, inspire, as I continue on this journey, your guidance spurts instruct and guide me. Your mercy has no bounds, renewed growth of love of God in this wretched old and I know I am an unworthy recipient. Every step I soul. have taken forward in Krishna Consciousness, I have taken with your mercy, and as I grow, it will be by I remember hearing a voice a long time ago at a your blessings. Rath Yathra. I was drawn to the voice, but I could not see who the speaker was. In my ignorance, Maharaj, on this Vyasa puja celebration, I wish you I pushed the search aside, and continued with well and excellent health, and I hope to one day material endeavors. Years later, I heard the very serve you. same voice and it carried my spirit, and at last, I felt at ease. With a renewed determination, the Your fallen and insignificant servant, search to find this speaker began in earnest. It was off course my most dear Kadamba Kanana Swami Eurika Maharaj, and I breathed a sigh of relief. I finally found my place on this plane. I remember just by hearing your kirtan, your lectures and reading the Ganna transcripts, I already felt deeply indebted to you. I Hare Krishna dear Guruji, felt and still feel that there will never be a way to repay you for your guidance. But, what I can do Thank You so much for everything that You do! is be thankful, and try. I can try to practice the Your lectures are great support in spiritual and teachings diligently, I can try to chant attentively and everyday life, they always pick me up whenever I I can try to be a devotee, all under your guidance feel sad or tired. Your nectar bhajans and extatic and mercy. kirtans are my constant companion during the day – they play when I wake up, do exersices, As I sit here listening to the rain, it makes me cook or drive. Pure voice touches the heart and remember that not only is your inspiration and transcendental knowledge changes mind. Some guidance toward me that is nourishing me, but ideas from Your lectures have become my “life its the constancy. Every day, every class, every keys”: “Karma can never overcome Bhakti”, moment, every utterance from Maharaj is about our “Krishna Consiousness is so simple that we might sweet Lord and eternal savior, Srila Prabhupada. even miss it (and that is we who make it difficult)”, “Purity and Naturalness are qualities that have to be Nothing else matters. Only Krishna. Only married”.. Prabhupada.

Thank You Maharaja for Your wonderful service, That is a lesson I will always carry with me, thanks Krishna for all that mercy, thanks your wherever I may go. Never forget! Try harder! The parents that You exists, thanks your Guru for the higher taste is calling! science of self-realization, thanks Srila Prabhupada…

29 Kadamba Kanana Swami ki Jay!! best father, as the best friend… you can just take any role and play anytime perfectly. I am bowing With love. down with full respect to your lotus feet.

Your Servant, I don‘t want to ask for any blessings in this auspicious day , because you are showering us with Ganna full stream of blessings and love of God all the time.

I just hope at the corner of my stony heart that Gauraväëé Däsé one day I will be a real devotee of the Lord … and servant of the servant of the all Vaisnavas and my Hare Krishna dearest Guru Maharaj heart would melt with glorifying and hearing about Krishna , His Holy name and pastimes. Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus And I know that I don‘t need that much, I am sure feet. it can happen if I would just start really listen your All glories to Srila Prabhupada. great instructions. All glories to His Hollines Jayadvaita Maharaj. All glories to you. I can just say Thank you for everything...

In the beginning I would like to thank you that you With hope, your rascal daughter are… I am so thankful to Krishna and Srila Prabhupada Gauraväëé Däsé because They are always so kind to us.

I have to apologize , that I am not a good disciple. Girivaradhäré Däsa and Prema Mayé I am rascal as you said to me so many times… and Devi Däsé and kids now after few years my false ego finally agree. I am sorry that everything is taking me so long time, but nama om visnu-pádáya krsna-prestháya bhú-tale you are staying always next to me, you are always srímate bhaktivedánta-svámin iti námine so patient with me. namas te sárasvate deve gaura-vání-pracárine You are amazing how you are taking care and nirvisesa-súnyavádi-páscátya-desa-tárine holding a protective hand above me. And you give me perfect advices - even if they are sometimes Dearest Guru Maharaj, too much for my false ego, but I know that’s just because you want to give me the strenght to follow On this most auspicious day of your appearance, the right way . And I have to say I love that. I can’t we offer You our humble obeisances. We are so imagine life without all of that. fortunate to have you as our spiritual master. It was your utmost mercy to accept us as your disciples You are always as my best spiritual master, as the and lead us in the right direction toward Krishna

30 Consciousness. Your servant, Through many rough times, you have always given us the courage to overcome them and motivate us. Gisela Mohanlal Srila Prabhupada has given us the powerful Maha- mantra which helps us in tremendous ways in our spiritual growth and stay connected to Lord Krishna. Gopälé Däsé

We would like to thank you once again. All glories Dear Guru Maharaj, to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to Jai Advaitaya Swami ! All glories to Srila Kadamba Kanana Swami please accept my most humble obeisances at your !! lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to Jayadvaita Swami! All glories to You!!! Your humble servants, I want to write a nice offering to you but Girivaradhäré Däsa and Prema Mayé Devi Däsé and unfortunatelly I have no proper words. Actually this kids (Pretoria, South Africa) is at least my 300th offering to you as since last VP I literally think every day what would I write to you, how to glorify you properly, how to please you... Gisela Mohanlal And still my advancement is so poor that I cannot see much of your glory. Still I am crippled and blind, Hare Krishna dear Maharaja, stupid and stubborn, proud and independent and so unfortunate that I cannot see fully how wonderful Please accept my most humble obeisances. you are. Yet, in spite of all these shortcomings of All glories to Srila Prabhupada! mine I know you are the best, most advanced, most wonderful person I have ever got to know and along How fortunate I am, that I have had the honour to with Krsna my most-concerned well-wisher. meet you. All because of Krishna‘s mercy. Meeting you in September last year at the Kirtan Mela in Yes, life is not easy for anybody. So many Germany has definitely changed my life. Your complaints all around. presence, words and instructions inspire me deeply in continuing my journey back to Godhead. I humbly Everybody is suffering in this material world. And I thank you so much for having the patience with me am not an exception. Most of the time I feel like the to guide me back home. May you allow me to take train just ran over me. But despite that I am happy shelter at your lotus feet and may I serve you with because I found refuge in Krsna consciousness sincere intentions. and because at one point you came into my life. And I am not going to give up. Sometimes with Dear Maharaja most of all Congratulations, I wish genuine and sometimes with artifical smile I keep you a happy birthday on this auspicious day. You are carrying my karma and trying my best to fix my really the Best! sight towards Krsna and his blissful companions.

31 And gradually with the miraculous touch of your serve spiritual master then instrustions are somehow presence and teachings more and more light and revealed. realizations come into my life and change me in a better person. I can say thousands time that I am your servant. But can it be taken seriously unless it is proven by The way how you are giving everything, all your life action? As real love is shown in the fire of separation and energy to preaching, keeping nothing for you, it can be demonstrated by how much one is willing recruting other jivas for Krsna‘s service and trying to give and how much one is willing to give up. to bring them to His lotus feet, is breath-taking. There is not a day when I do not contemplate on It is stunning to see how you can make people so your words and instruction. Every day I am taxing charmed by you that they are progressivly offering my brain - what can I do today to fullfill GM’s major part of their lives. You are full of life, you are instruction. What prey, what gift can I bring to His shining, everybody wants to be close to you, to get feet today? And every night when I am laying down this pleasant feeling of peace and bliss emanating I am questioning myself - did I do enough? Only to from your personality. find the same answer day after day - my service is mediocre at best. Unfurtonatelly I did not have enough credit to receive male form of life that would enable me I would like to finish my offering by thanking you to serve you more intimatelly and personally. My for everything you have done for me, Paramesvar female body enables only limited services, but it and Kadambini. I cannot stop thanking you for forces me to focus on your vani, on fullfilling your accepting me in your family. There is no limit to my instruction and trying to please you. gratitude for your leading me back home. I cannot find the means how to repay you, I think it is not Last time you were visiting us I realized that vani possible. After all, what can a beggar give? I am really works. Usually we get many senior devotees a sold animal. Please use me in your service and and I get the chance to talk to them and receive in service to Krsna. All I can do is that I will try to a lot of nice advice which I try to apply in my life. repay at least part of my debt by helping other jivas But repeatedly I noticed that when you visit, some come close to Krsna and come close to you. other dimension comes into action. Even though I do not talk to you much and receive almost none Your servant, of personal instructions I observe change of my consciousness and feel a change in my heart. I Gopälé Däsé feel something is melting there and I realize many important things about my life, my behaviour, my service etc. Even though you do not give me Gour Mohan Däsa personal instruction I get the instruction from inside of my heart. And those realisations are not small Dear Guru-Maharaj, things, for me they are the major steps on my path. So my conclusion is that if one sincerely tries to Please accept my humble obeisances All Glories to Srila Prabhupada

32 33 All Glories to Jayadvaita Swami of the lord and stay humble by being aware of my All Glories to You, honored Master dependence of these great souls.

Declarance of Dependence The first dimension of association with these great personalities is attained in physical association in This year I didn´t go to India with the other everyday life. The second dimension of this holy brahmacharis in order to become more absorbed association is attained through the study of the in my humble service of Book Distribution. The first devotees mentioned in the holy books; foremost few days being on my own were full of success. I of all is the Shri Caitanya Caritamrita. Therefore my had more time to read; I got more and more taste plan is to study this wonderful book thoroughly, like for the SERVICE of Book Distribution and had my spiritual master HH. Kadamba Kanana Swami. throughout the day a very nice meditation. These were some of the results attaining from going Diving deep into the relationships of these vaisnavas deep into my service for you. It was a welcomed is like an ocean of nectar. In this ocean there are no challenge to stand on my own feet. Though little dangers, because if we even drown new worlds full by little, the strength of my focus became weaker of ecstacies are revealed to us. And every little drop and weaker and my mind began to drift away tastes like an explosion of nectar. My wish is that from my service. The very fact that I actually was I may drown in this genuine ocean and will never not as strongly rooted in Krishna Consciousness have to leave it in this life or the next. as assumed shocked me. It made me humble and aware of my dependence of the most auspicious The other part of my transcendental plan consists association of Vaisnavas. praising their sublime qualities. Maybe I will be thus able to adobt some of their great qualities. In that auspicious association I will observe very carefully how every Vaisnava performs his service to Sincerely grasping the lotusfeet of you vaisnavas, the Lord. And by observing and analyzing I will try especially yours Maharaj, I beg you again and to adapt their methods and attitudes by following in again to please please please be mercyfull to me their most auspicious footsteps. One problem will by always keeping me in your association. I will tough arise: the Vaisnavas are so humble that they serve you as your dog and you may command me will not very easily reveal their most inner secrets around as you so desire. Whatever obstacles arise to a fool like me. My strategy therefore is that I on this path I will face them with determination and will serve them in such an excellent way I that they patience. will become somehow pleased with me and reveal their inner most secrets of their devotional service. Praying at your Lotusfeet my honored Guru-Maharaj Staying thus humble and meek at their lotus feet I hope that you may never reject me of your shelter. I will beg them to please give me entrance to the Please empower me to share the nectar you are transcendental service of Shri Krishna. giving me, which you are distributing like intoxicated Lord Nityananda, not concerning who is qualified Thus I learn to be respectful towards the devotees and who is not. Like Lord Nityananda you are

34 partaking in the transcendental Lila of Gouranga “Oh yeah, he said this and yes it really works” Mahaprabhu and relishing it´s nectar. Please give “I should have done what he told me ages ago” me a glimpse of that nectar, so that I may give it to “I should simply do what he says, maybe he is a others! My very life and soul is dependend on Your genius and I will never have a problem again!” causeless MERCY. ….like this my steel framed heart is becoming At your command, defeated by realising your super excellent dealings with me. Your instructions are special specific gems Gour Mohan Däsa that eradicate the complex darkness of my heart. You patiently wait for me to follow the instructions.

Gurudäsa Like this you conquer the hearts of thousands and give them exact medicine to soothe their pain and Dearest Guru Maharaja cure their incurable disease. I am sure that one day I will hold your photo to my heart and breakdown Please accept my respectful obeisances. in tears with mixed emotions of appreciation, lamentation and ecstasy thinking about your gift of One point is becoming more and more obvious as personal instructions to me. time passes. This one point is: The personal instructions you have Please do not give up on me yet. Please bless me given me are the most precious gifts I have ever that I can follow your instructions. Your instructions ever received. make up the real pure pathway to the Lotus Feet of Godhead. Every time you gave me personal instructions, as an actor, a fake, a rat, a snake I simply imitated a Thank You For Everything humble disciple nodding my head agreeing with folded hands. At the time I took these instructions Your servant, with a pinch of salt, not appreciating the value, having no real intention to follow and thinking I Gurudäsa know better.

As newer and newer problems stare me in the face, Haàsa Avatar Däsa the facts hit me in my heart: “I am thinking this now but he had mentioned this Dear Gurumaharaj, already” “He knew about this and that’s why he advised me Please accept my humble obeisance at the dust of like that” Your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada, all glories to His Divine Grace Jay Advaita Swami, all Again and again I find myself thinking: glories to You and Your mercyfull service. All glories “He is always one step ahead, how did he know?!” to all Vaisnavas devotees of the Lord Sri Krishna.

35 You just kindly say “My dear, open here and taste tarko ‘pratisöhah çrutayo vibhinnä don`t waste your valuable lifetime.” näsäv risir yasya matam na bhinnam dharmasya tattvam nihitam guhäyäm Thank You very much that You are such a kind and mahäjano yena gatah sa panthäh patient with me chronic ignorant patient.

‘Dry arguments are inconclusive. A great personality My dear Gurumaharaj, thank You so for eternal whose opinion does not differ from others is not bliss and knowledge for a way to the eternal goal considered a great sage. Simply by studying the devotional service to the Supreme Lord and His Vedas, which are variegated, one cannot come consort. to the right path by which religious principles are understood. The solid truth of religious principles is Wish You eternal association of the pure devotees hidden in the heart of an unadulterated, self-realized and a lot of strength to spread that treasure of love person. Consequently, as the sastras confirm, of God everywhere. Wish You good health and the one should accept whatever progressive path the most wealth for Your service. mahajanas advocate.’ THANK YOU, This beautiful day of Your Vyasapuja I`d like to Your trying to be servant, thank You for opening a coffin of Your heart so we can take a part of enjoying the glance of the most Haàsa Avatar Däsa valuable jewels of love of God. Thus fulfill the sense of human life and dive in this transcendental bliss. Hemäìga Caitanya Däsa & Smita Kåñëa That is what all the beings miss in this fearful world. Devi Däsé Throughout eternity all the living entities are trying to find this goal personal relation between a soul nama om visnu-pádáya krsna prestháya bhú-tale and Lord Sri Krishna. By grace of the Vaisnavas we srímate kadamba kánana svámin iti námine can know that the sweetest mellow is hidden in Vedas. Unfortunately as the conditioned souls we nama om visnu-pádáya krsna-prestháya bhú-tale are attended to search for money so don`t want to guru dasa jayadvaita svámin iti námine taste that honey. At best after very long rest trying a bitter taste look for something sweet what soul nama om visnu-pádáya krsna-prestháya bhú-tale really needs searching for some sweets. So we get srímate bhaktivedánta-svámin iti námine the bottle of that pure nectar and go home lock the door and taste alone. But still trying to fulfill inner Dear Srila Gurudev, desire trying to lick outside of the bottle but can’t find anything big. Please accept our humble obeisances at your lotus feet, By Your causeless mercy without any hesitations All glories to Srila Prabhupada and all the Vaisnavas

36 Today, it was a very auspicious day for myself and giving us shelter at the lotus feet of such an exalted for whole Sydney – It was Rath Yatra here and devotee of the Lord and pray to Lord to give us Lord Jagannath went out riding on his magnificent enough intelligence to follow your footsteps without chariot in the downtown Sydney, giving out His getting distracted and always serve you in very mercy to everyone without any discrimination or humble mood. any consideration. While devotees were jumping up and down in ecstasy, kirtan was on its top end, I His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Swami Maharaj, Srila was looking at Lord Jagannath and His big wide eyes Gurudev Ki Jay. and I was remembering you. Last year (2011), you His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Swami Maharaj, Vyas were personally present here and were leading all puja Mahamahotsav Ki Jay. of us with Lord Jagannath on a higher realm. I was Srila Prabhupad Ki Jay. thinking, as Lord Jagannath doesn’t discriminate in giving His mercy, you also never fail to give mercy to Your unworthy servants, the conditioned souls; despite your bad health, bad facilities or opposite circumstances, u never stop Hemäìga Caitanya Däsa & Smita Kåñëa Devi Däsé spreading the message of Lord Caitanya. Always trying to reach more and more conditioned souls and trying to give them the Holy name of Krishna. Hina Your recent Bangladesh tour was another example of the same - very inspiring – although externally Dear Guru Maharaja, tough situation –you very nicely brought these glorious places of Lord and His devotee’s pastimes, Please accept my humble obeisance. in front of us and made them available to all of us All glories to your lotus feet. - although I wasn’t physically present in that tour All glories to Srila Prabhupada. but I did hear all the lectures and with your vani- I could see those glorious places little bit and could I endlessly bow down to your lotus feet again and appreciate those exalted personalities little bit more, again. You have been placed here on hell to take who displayed their lila with Caitanya mahaprabhu. us all back home with you to the Vaikuntha planet where we can serve Krishna to our heart’s content! Whether you are physically with us or sitting thousands of miles away (in Europe, Africa etc etc), The Vyasa Puja is always a very special day since you are always giving us Krishna and by your mercy it is a day to glorify you, show appreciation, only, we are able to live our life- little bit though- gratefulness and gratitude towards you and all of the in a Krishna Conscious way. With your personal kind things that you have done for us all. You have example, you are always inspiring us to choose given us all endless mercy, with humour and serious Krishna not maya, which we usually go towards. The points to take on board. more we read about you, your activities and your messages, the more we feel inspired to come closer It was a great honour to serve you in February this to Krishna and His devotees. I thank to Krishna for year. My daughter and I were very excited about

37 it and we become ecstatic whenever we recall Ikñväku Däsa these precious moments with you! Thank you for tolerating my cooking, since it’s not exactly first om ajnana –timirandhasya jnananjana-šalakaya class, but you were very kind and humble about it! caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah Although you are always busy I really do appreciate the fact that you took the time out to talk to me. nama om visnu-pádáya krsna prestháya bhú-tale Overall, I am very grateful for all that you have done srímate kadamba kánana svámin iti námine for me and I found your advice and instructions as being most valuable. I duly will remember to mukam karoti vacalam pangum langhayate girim continue to carry out the services required as much yat-krpa tam aham vande sri gurum dina tarinam as my capabilities will allow me to do so in order to fulfil your desires. You are forever merciful and a Dear Guru Maharaja. well wisher! Please accept my humble obeisances in the dust of I have always seen you as my Siksa Guru alongside your lotus feet. Srila Prabhupada, and cannot wait for you to All glories to Srila Prabhupada. become my Diksa Guru! To me you are the topmost All glories to you,on this auspicious day of your yogi: vyasapuja.

‘yoginām api sarvesām Guru Maharaja,what can I offer to your lotus feet mad-gatenāntar-ātmanā on this auspicious day.Whatever little material śraddhāvān bhajate yo mām possessions or spiritual values I have is nothing but sa me yuktatamo matah,’ (Bg, 6.47). manifestacion of your mercy Just like we can take some water from Ganges and My spiritual life would not be complete without you. offer that back to Ganges.Similarly I have nothing You are one of the main reasons that I can call mine,everything in my life progresses as to why I am still in Krishna Consciousness! You due to your causeless mercy. are my future father from whom I will render service to with kindness, attention and great love. I was drowning in an ocean of material suffering.You Confidently knowing that I will never feel alone in compassionately picked me up and gave me shelter this so called ‘hellish planet’, just as long as I have at our lotus feet.Your words cut through my illusions Krishna, Srila Prabhupada and you within my heart, and entered my heart.There you planted the seed and hence there is no room within this heart for of creeper of devotional service.You gave my the anything else! most precious gift which can never be repaid.You have given me opportunities to serve you.How Your aspiring servant, fortunate I am to receive such care.Although I have done nothing to deserve it.I can only beg for more. Hina (Leicester, UK) Please remove the stubborn pride which stains my heart.Upon examining your mercy I am unable to

38 calculate its full extent,I am unable to adequately better say to serve Krsna, first of all I need to learn glorify you.My only hope is that by following your how to serve devotees and my guru. instructions I may be able to do something to please That’s why I’m writing this to You. I need Your you. mercy and your guidance, Your funny lectures that come straight to my heart, I need your kirtaaans in I pray that I may always feel your presence.In this which I can’t stop to dance. I need You, to help me way I may became fearless to assist you in your in this material world. To make it easier or harder, it service to Srila Prabhupada in the sankirtan mission doesn’t matter, if I will reach the spiritual world. of Lord chaitanya. Dear Gurumaharaj, thank You for Your Begging to remain your servant always, determination and perseverance, which is pushing us further and inspire us. Thank You for the chance to Ikñväku Däsa serve You.

Your humble servant (in an attempt) Irma Irma Dear Gurumaharaj

Please accept my humble obeisance, Janamajaya Däsa All glories to Srila Prabhupada! Dear Guru Maharaja, There is so many things to say, but no words to describe it. Since I met devotees, on some way I’m please accept my humble obeissances. aware of Krsna. I know that He is always there to All glories to Srila Prahupada. protect me, to give me a shelter, helping me to pass some bad fazes. Unfortunately, I had a period when The year has passed like water and again there is I was ignoring it. I was ashamed because my mother that time when I am writing my offering and looking was Hare Krsna, but more ashamed because I also forward to Vyasa-puya and Queen‘s day. When we believe in it. are going through the city of Amsterdam with so many devotees singing the Holy Name of the Lord, Years have passed and I have realized how ignorant at that moment I realize how powerful sankirtana I was. That “switch” just came and showed me the really is and I am thankful that I can be part of it and real value of Krsna Consciousness. I figure out that help in some way. this is my chance and I need to use it. But, I can’t come to Krsna just like that. I see it as a pyramid, When I listen to your lectures I am glad that I have where at the bottom are all living beings, then on such a guru; not only do they give me faith which second place are devotees and above devotees allows me to overcome obstacles - I also more is guru. On the top of that pyramid is of course easily understand topics of Bhagavad Gita and Supreme Lord Sri Krsna. So, to have relationship or when I listen to you I am closer to our dear Srila

39 Prabhupada and I am so much thankful to you for dhāi tava pāche pāche this! (4) Krsna is yours. You have the power to give Him Dear Guru Maharaja, I pray to you with following to me. I am simply your servant running behind you prayer from Srila Bhaktivinod Thakura and I beg you shouting, „Krsna! Krsna!“ to help me becoming a worthy servant of yours. I pray to Krsna for the ability to serve you and I ohe! vaisnaba thākura, doyāra sāgara, hope the time will come when you will be satisfied e dāse koruṇā kori‘ with my service. diyā pada-chāyā, śodho he āmāya, tomāra caraṇa dhori Servant of your servant,

(1) O venerable Vaisnava. O ocean of mercy, be Janamajaya Däsa merciful unto your servant. Give me the shade of your lotus feet and purify me. I hold on to your lotus feet. Jananiväsa Däsa chaya bega domi‘, chaya dosa śodhi‘, Dear Gurumaharaja chaya guṇa deho‘ dāse chaya sat-sańga, deho‘ he āmāre, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to bosechi sańgera āśe Srila Prabhupada, all glories to Jayadvaita Maharaja and all glories to you! (2) Teach me to control my six passions; rectify my six faults, bestow upon me the six qualities, and We were sitting in the ‘Matchless Gifts’ store front, offer unto me the six kinds of holy association just coming from a walk in Tompston Square Park and discussing the Caitanya Caritamrita. It was ekākī āmāra, nāhi pāya bala, mainly you and Vasudeva speaking and I had a hari-nāma-sańkīrtane whole lot of things to do. So at one point I thought: tumi kṛpā kori‘, śraddhā-bindu diyā, “Maybe I should go…” We were sitting there for deho‘ kṛṣṇa-nāma-dhane quite an amount of time but just exactly at that moment you looked at me and asked: “So, you (3) I do not find the strength to carry on alone the want to go?” Baffled I said: “Ah, yes Maharaja… sankirtana of the holy name of Hari. Please bless me actually yes.” So I left and on my way back to the by giving me just one drop of faith with which to Bhakti Centre I was meditating on one thought: obtain the great treasure of the holy name of Krsna. ‘Who are you?’ krsna se tomāra, kṛṣṇa dīte pāro, In Sydney you had a bad arthritis attack. Your whole tomāra śakati āche knee got swollen and you could hardly walk. Your āmi to‘ kāńgāla, ‚kṛṣṇa‘ ‚kṛṣṇa‘ boli‘, body really was in a bad condition but a program was to start. So you were somehow making your

40 41 way down to the temple room, reaching the my full faith and following you sincerely my life will Vyasasana and starting kirtana… It was one of the become perfected. I hope you will always take me most amazing kirtanas I ever experienced, and what with you, wherever that may be… “I guess I would followed was a very special and ecstatic talk on come back… I am crazy enough to do it. They the Caitanya Caritamrita… Where did the pain go? would get me. Krsna would come like: ‘Oh, it’s just Where was the fatigue? Once again the thought: for a hundred years… no problem…’” ‘Who are you?’ I pray that one day I will be of some use for your Another time in New York I had this very question service to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga. on my mind while being in your room and watching you sitting on the sofa. You were just silently sitting, Hare Krsna looking at the wall, while I was starring at you. You caught my glance and said: “You are checking me Trying to be your servant, out. I can see, you do it often. You are checking me out… I am chanting. Sometimes Kirtana sometimes Jananiväsa Däsa Japa but in my mind I am always chanting…” Who are you? Jay Keçava Däsa

I am checking you out, rascal that I am, but never oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä do you fall short in giving me the picture of a cakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù devotee purely dedicated to the service of Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga. Day in day out I see you fixed „I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual and absorbed in Krsna consciousness. You are a master, who has opened my eyes, which were saint, a prophet. You are very strictly anchored in blinded by the darkness of ignorance, with the the process, yet your dealings with devotees are on torchlight of knowledge.“ such a smooth level. I see you joking and laughing with your disciples and friends. One time in South mükaà karoti väcälaà Africa you were with Tota Gopinatha teaching him paìguà laìghayate girim to speak French: “It’s easy: Just say ‘ooohh! ooohh! yat-kåpä tam ahaà vande I – ooohh speak - ooohh French - ooohh!’”It was çré-guruà déna-täraëam just so nice to witness.

„I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual What didn’t you do for this movement? What didn’t master, the deliverer of the fallen souls. His mercy you do to please Jayadvaita Maharaja and Srila turns the dumb into eloquent speakers and enables Prabhupada? Who are you to have such incredible the lame to cross mountains.“ strength in your devotional dedication?

vande ‚haà çré-guroù çré-yuta-pada-kamalaà çré- Whoever you are, you are my spiritual master, the gurün vaiñëaväàç ca pure connection to Prabhupada and Krsna. You have çré-rüpaà sägrajätaà saha-gaëa-raghunäthänvitaà

42 taà sa-jévam romäïca -kampäçru-taraìga-bhäjo sädvaitaà sävadhütaà parijana-sahitaà kåñëa- vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam caitanya-devaà çré-rädhä-kåñëa-pädän saha-gaëa-lalitä-çré- Chanting the holy name, dancing in ecstasy, singing, viçäkhänvitäàç ca and playing musical instruments, the spiritual master is always gladdened by the saìkértana movement of „I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu. Because he is relishing feet of myspiritual master and of all the other the mellows of pure devotion within his mind, preceptors on the path of devotional service. sometimes his hair stands on end, he feels quivering I offer my respectful obeisances unto allthe in his body, and tears flow from his eyes like waves. Vaisnavas and unto the six Gosvamis including Srila I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet RupaGosvaml, Srila Sanatana Gosvami, Raghunatha of such a spiritual master. Dasa Gosvami, Jiva Gosvami, and their associates. I offer my respectfulobeisances unto Sri Advaita (3) Acarya Prabhu, Sri NityanandaPrabhu, Sri Caitanya çré-vigrahärädhana-nitya-nänä- Mahaprabhu, and all His devotees,headed by Srivasa çåìgära-tan-mandira-märjanädau Thakura. I then offer my respectfulobeisances unto yuktasya bhaktäàç ca niyuïjato ‚pi the lotus feet of Lord Krsna,“ vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam

Words of previuos acryas are the best: The spiritual master is always engaged in the temple worship of Çré Çré Rädhä and Kåñëa. He also engages (1) his disciples in such worship. They dress the Deities saàsära-dävänala-léòha-loka- in beautiful clothes and ornaments, clean Their träëäya käruëya-ghanäghanatvam temple, and perform other similar worship of the präptasya kalyäëa-guëärëavasya Lord. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam feet of such a spiritual master.

The spiritual master is receiving benediction from (4) the ocean of mercy. Just as a cloud pours water catur-vidha-çré-bhagavat-prasäda- on a forest fire to extinguish it, so the spiritual svädv-anna-tåptän hari-bhakta-saìghän master delivers the materially afflicted world by kåtvaiva tåptià bhajataù sadaiva extinguishing the blazing fire of material existence. vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is an ocean of The spiritual master is always offering Kåñëa four auspicious qualities. kinds of delicious food [analyzed as that which is licked, chewed, drunk, and sucked]. When the (2) spiritual master sees that the devotees are satisfied mahäprabhoù kértana-nåtya-géta- by eating bhagavat-prasäda, he is satisfied. I offer väditra-mädyan-manaso rasena my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such

43 a spiritual master. revealed scriptures and followed by all authorities. Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto the (5) lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is a bona çré-rädhikä-mädhavayor apära- fide representative of Çré Hari [Kåñëa]. mädhurya-lélä guëa-rüpa-nämnäm prati-kñaëäsvädana-lolupasya (8) vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam yasya prasädäd bhagavat-prasädo yasyäprasädän na gatiù kuto ‚pi The spiritual master is always eager to hear and dhyäyan stuvaàs tasya yaças tri-sandhyaà chant about the unlimited conjugal pastimes of vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam Rädhikä and Mädhava, and Their qualities, names, and forms. The spiritual master aspires to relish By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives these at every moment. I offer my respectful the benediction of Kåñëa. Without the grace of the obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual spiritual master, one cannot make any advancement. master. Therefore, I should always remember and praise the spiritual master. At least three times a day I should (6) offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of nikuïja-yüno rati-keli-siddhyai my spiritual master. yä yälibhir yuktir apekñaëéyä taträti-däkñyäd ati-vallabhasya This song is perfect. He is opposite, because speaks vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam about glories of spiritual master and about his noble qualitites and privileged position in process of The spiritual master is very dear, because he is devotional service. This song is manual how we can expert in assisting the gopés, who at different make spiritual advancement and acquire his mercy times make different tasteful arrangements for the Thank you very much for your mercy and my perfection of Rädhä and Kåñëa‘s conjugal loving service. I need your mercy. Without your mercy my affairs within the groves of Våndävana. I offer my life be lost. If i have your mercy i can make some most humble obeisances unto the lotus feet of such spiritual advancement. Please accept my respectful a spiritual master. obeisances unto your lotus feet. Aspirant of on the servant of servants, (7) säkñäd-dharitvena samasta-çästrair Jay Keçava Däsa uktas tathä bhävyata eva sadbhiù kintu prabhor yaù priya eva tasya vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam Jai Nitäi Däsa

The spiritual master is to be honored as much as the Dear Gurumaharaja, Supreme Lord, because he is the most confidential servitor of the Lord. This is acknowledged in all Please accept my humble obeisances.

44 45 All glories to Srila Prabhupada, all glories to is useless and the only way it gains some value is Jayadvaita Swami. All glories to You. through Your blessings. Please continue to engage me in Your Service. What can I speak, unqualified as I am, contaminated with lust, greed and anger, the doors to hell are I have to praise Your wonderful explanations of wide open for me. What valuable words can come philosophy, tattvas and lilas every year, because it from my mouth being connected to my polluted inspires me many times and deepens my attraction mind. Therefore because IÕm not used to glorify to Krishna. To hear You speak about Krishna, his others I have to learn a lot. associates, Lord Chaitanya and the Acaryas is always nectar. Your answers on philosophical questions On the other hand having a great master as You are clear all doubts and show how deep and broad your I am hopeful. Profiting from Your association I can understanding is. Many Vaisnavas like to hear Your learn what bhakti is and I can see and experience explanations. The way You speak and explain, the the glorious qualifications of a pure devotee. way You answer questions is most pleasing to the ear. You fan our spark of devotion with patience and You have great faith that some day it will enflame Even though IÔm not able to follow Your to a big fire. You shower Your blessings constantly instructions there is so much mercy emanating and we can overcome our conditioned nature, from You. Krishna is revealing through You and because You are there to guide us and Your faith in Your instructions, and I hope, that some day I might our spiritual nature is stronger than our temporary be ready to accept all the mercy which is raining material consciousness. Therefore it is elevating to from Your lotus feet, even though it will never be be in Your association. One easily can find access to possible, because Your mercy is unlimited. Krishna consciousness being in your presence. All glories to You, Gurumaharaja, Your meditation in life is to serve Krishna and the Your most insignificant servant, Guru-parampara and to deliver the fallen souls. Always thinking of how to spread the mercy of Jai Nitäi Däsa Lord Chaitanyas sankirtan movement, taking many inconveniences and austerities, You make a great sacrifice. Still You are blissful. I cannot understand Kalävaté Devi Däsé how You do this. It must be, because You are totally surrendered to Krishnas plan and follow Hare Krishna dear Guru Maharaja! the example of Srila Prabhupada. Many times You show us that You are transcendental to bodily limits. Please accept my most humble obeisances, all Please continue to bless us with Your teachings glories to You, Jay Advaita Maharaj, all glories to and presence. I pray to serve You someway in Your Srila Prabhupada! mission that more people can find shelter in the Holy Name. That is what I am longing for. My life In fact everything we need for attaining the goal of life we have in the scriptures. Srila Rupa Goswami

46 mentions 10 main principles of devotional service in the Nectar of Devotion. First three are: (1) „By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives surrender under the shelter of the lotus feet of a the benediction of Krishna. Without the grace of the bona fide spiritual master, (2) receive initiation from spiritual master, one cannot make any advancement. spiritual master and learn from him how to perform Therefore, I should always remember and praise the devotional service, (3) follow the instructions of spiritual master. At least three times a day I should spiritual master with faith and devotion. These offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of points belong to the preliminary points necessary my spiritual master.“ for the beginning of devotional service according to regulative principles. Thank you for everything

If a neophyte devotee follows at the beginning Your servant, the above mentioned principles, he will progress quickly in Krishna consciousness. So it is only up Kalävaté Devi Däsé to us if we give these principles a real form in our lives. And not just at the time of a festival or writing Kasturé maïjaré Devi Däsé an offering. Being aware of these principles and applying them in practice should be incessant. We Dearest Gurumaharaj! should always keep in mind that the spiritual master is the representative of the Supreme Personality Please accept my humble obeisances at Your lotus of Godhead and Paramatma and a perfect feet! All glories to Srila personification of devotional service. Jayadvaita Maharaj! All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Dear Guru Maharaj, the key for success is to serve “O Suta, those great sages who have completely You, but what can I do by my own effort? With taken shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord can at all those dull instruments – uncontrolled senses, once sanctify those who come in touch with them, disturbed mind, weak intelligence and big false ego? whereas the waters of the Ganges can sanctify only Fortunately, Your mercy is causeless, so I’m getting after prolonged use.” (SB 1.1.15) more than I deserve. But with this my indebtedness also increases. The debt is already enormous and I “The spiritual master, by his words, can penetrate don’t like debts at all, but still I am praying for more into the heart of the suffering person and inject of Your causeless mercy, because this feeling of knowledge transcendental, which alone can gratitude forces me to make an endeavor to serve extinguish the fire of material existence.” (SB 1.7.22., You more. purport)

yasya prasädäd bhagavat-prasädo In my pitiful condition of materialistic life, I see that yasyäprasädän na gatiù kuto ‚pi my only hope and only treasure is the fact that I dhyäyan stuvaàs tasya yaças tri-sandhyaà have You as my spiritual father and guide. That’s vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam really my only hope. It is wonderful to be a dull dog

47 at the feet of a glorious master. The master can kick Holy Name that always outpours nectar constantly, me or pat me, but both are just manifestations of his but at the same time remains always full. Caitanya mercy. Mahaprabhu gave the formula by which one can become such a vessel. I am lazy to endeavor even for my own spiritual benefit, but You are never tired to endeavor hard for tåëäd api sunécena the sake of thousands of ignorant conditioned souls. taror api sahiñëunä Somewhere far in the mist of my blurred mind, I amäninä mänadena can perceive that You are carrying a message so kértanéyaù sadä hariù infinitely deep, sublime and blissful...it is indeed something beyond my vision, but by Your mercy, “One who is humbler than a blade of grass, more I can see and follow at least one particle of that forbearing than a tree who gives due honor to endless beauty and I have full faith in Your others without desiring honor for himself is qualified capacity to deliver it to me all with time. Because to always chant the Holy Name of Krishna.” You are the perfect empowered representative of that highest glittering truth, directly coming from the So you did apply this formula very well and thus sphere of pure transcendence. If only I was always became a true kirtaniyah. Me, at the other end able to remember this, not only at the time of of the relationship, can certainly only reciprocate writing an offering to You... properly by sincerely trying to become a vessel for the Holy Name as well. Thus I beg you humbly to My dear Gurudev, I pray that I would be able to bless me with a few drops of nectar, so that I can please You and be a useful part of this pure Krishna become as qualified as you are, and be a kirtanyiah, consciousness movement. who serves Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission in a powerful way. Your always neophyte servant, Your servant, Kasturé maïjaré Devi Däsé Keçava Mädhava Däsa

Keçava Mädhava Däsa Kåñëa Balaräm Däsa

Dear Kadamba Kanana Swami, please accept my Dear Guru Maharaja, humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to you! Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Jayadvaita Swami. All In German language the word “Beziehung”, can be glories to you, dear Guru Maharaja. understood literally as receiving something. What I receive from you is inspiration to chant the Holy Now it has been two years since you pulled my Name. That is certainly the most precious thing one sikha and lifted my from the ocean of nescience, can receive. I see you being truly a vessel for the

48 material miseries, and gave me never-ending, eternal seafaring onboard your ship buit from your mercy, You said, “Sit down and honor prasada with me.” understanding, and compassionate love. I looked at your smile and could not say anything else than “It will be my honor and pleasure to take Now we sail on the ship where you are the prasada with Your Holiness.” You gave me a few captain – a captain full of strength, inspiration, and basic instructions about moral motivations and about motivating force for his crew, who somehow try to being on the boat. fulfill your orders on your ship, whose destination is not any place other than Goloka Vrindavan, One thing you told me I remember especially: Don’t the headquarters of our admiral svayam bhagavan be too ambitious, but ambition has to be there. Just vrajendra nandana Krsna. Krsna gives his captains not too much. At the time, I didn’t understand what who decide to sail from one shore to another you meant, but after some time I realized that what with the goal to save from the ocean of nescience you said was a very deep instruction. Only with the many misguided jīvas directions with infallible mentality you prescribed can one progress humbly love. Without His guidance, the journey would be and easily in Krsna consciousness. impossible. Whatever one achieves on the path of purification, The day after you saved me and give me harinama he should not become puffed up. Rather, he should initiation, you invited me for breakfast to the boat’s always keep a humble attitude, because whatever prasada hall. I came with a plate for you and tried to he does is no one else’s fame or glory than yours serve you the best i could according to my condition and our admiral, svayam bhagavan vrajendra and my etiquette toward you. I wasn’t very sober nandana Krsna. because it was only my first day on the ship and i didn’t know how to approach the captain. It was I remember I had a question and I asked it of you: too early to even approach you because not even You gave me the name Krsna Balaram Das. Does it twenty-four hours before I was drowing in the mean I am a servant of Krsna Balaram? You smiled ocean. Then I was, by your mercy, in front of you. I and said devotees get different names, but all of felt ashamed that I came in such a condition. I was them mean they are servants of the holy name. I ashamed that the admiral had to send his precious was a little sad that I might not actually be a servant captain to save me because I had misused my free of Krsna Balaram, but now I know that I’m not only will. a servant of Krsna and Balaram but Srimati Radhika and Lord Ramacandra. All these names are chanted I put the plate of prasada in front of you, and in the Hare Krsna mantra. you just smiled. Even if you saw that my bhakti was mixed and impure and full of dirt, you looked My understanding has taken time, but you gave me through my eyes to my soul. This was the most time because you are compassionate to this rascal precious second of my life. You saw not the body or who doesn’t have the proper understanding. impure mind but the core of myself, my soul. It was what you were looking at. After I stood up you left. I felt sad because I realize

49 how dear you became to me just through this short breakfast at the prasada table. During the time when After many lifetimes, hassle and troubles, you were leaving I was begging you in my mind, You‘ve rescued me atop the ocean bubbles, “Please, dear Guru Maharaja, whatever happens, from a dark place so far from home, whatever difficulty I have to go through in my life poisoned by illusory foam. or in my future, please never let me jump back into the ocean of nescience. This world is really a place When I read my little rhyme, of suffering without any hope for a better life in the I realize: I‘ve got no time! future. Better I surrender now and be clever, only pleasing you, eternally and forever! Your fallen servant, Your servant, Kåñëa Balaräm Däsa Kåñëa Caitanya Däsa

Kåñëa Caitanya Däsa Kåñëa Kértan Däsa Dear Gurumaharaja, Dearest Guru Maharaja, Please accept my humble obeisances all glories to You, all glories to Jayadvaita Maharaja, all glories to Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories Srila Prabhupada! to Srila Prabhupada, Srila Jayadvaita Swami, and your kind self! All glories to all the Vaishnavas of You‘re distributing medicine of Krishnas names, Gauranga Mahaprabhu! You‘re extinguishing all material flames, You‘re taking risks for Guru‘s pleasure, The Vyasa-puja homage is not an exercise of simply You‘re working without any leisure, putting pen to paper. Rather, it is an opportunity to You‘re serving with devotion steady, offer a gift from the heart: from the heart of the You‘re helping devotees, anytime ready, disciple to the heart of the beloved spiritual master. You‘re shining like the effulgent sun, What is in a gift? Many agree it is ‘the thought that You‘re never thinking, You‘re done, counts,’ not merely the object itself. Indeed, Sri You‘re a transcendental desire-tree, Krishna confirms this: “If one offers Me with love You‘re a nectar-hunting bumble-bee, and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will You‘re indeed my life and soul, accept it” (B.G. 9.25). One need not worry much You‘re delivering so many to the supreme goal! about the gift wrapping, as it is the motive and meditation behind the contents that pleases the There is no end for me to say, recipient the most. So if you are kind enough to this from my fallen heart I pray, immature son of yours, please accept my offering. that I may remember You, day by day, and not go again astray. One can please Krishna by pleasing the spiritual

50 master, as Srila Visvanatha Cakravati Thakura in Srila Prabhupada’s mission. Now on a day that explains in his prayers to the spiritual master. And celebrates your compassion and nobility, let me how does one please the spiritual master? By not burden you with another immature cry for actions? Or by sentiments? Srila Prabhupada has causeless help. Let me stand on my own two feet, nicely explained to us it is by bhakti that we can held up on this slippery path of purification by the please the spiritual master. Srila Prabhupada has stick of mercy of the Vaishnavas, your empowered translated bhakti as devotional service, not just blessings, and your steadfast, exemplary devotional devotion. So we need to serve (act) with pure character. Let my strength come from absorption in intentions and motives to satisfy guru and Krishna. hearing from you and the scriptures and by nama- seva. Today marks my birthday anniversary, and as I reflect on my bhakti creeper I see a void in my I ask for one blessing today: enthusiasm. Enthusiasm attitude to service. You recently wrote me a letter is an expression of one’s love. I am neither instructing: very patient nor determined, but I enjoy being enthusiastic to the serve the devotees. So please Krsna consciousness means that we worship our bless my continued maturing and pure enthusiasm spiritual master every day and that we are always to develop the proper attitude to serve your orders. thinking that whatever we do is an offering to him, and sometimes we wonder: ‚Would he give his Begging to remain in your service and association, blessings for what I am doing now?‘ Your humble servant,

Usually, my motivation or attitude to a service is not Kåñëa Kértan Däsa pure, often being very superficial and selfish. Srila Rupa Goswami has given us the golden standard Kåñëasmaraëaà Däsa for pure bhakti in Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu. But I wonder how I will get to such a platform being Dear Gurumaharaja myself a lowly sinful wretch. Purity is the force. Purity comes from brahminical culture and the mode Please accept my sincere dandavats... of goodness, which includes strict adherence to the four regulative principles and sincerely chanting a We must cultivate Krishna consciousness under minimum of sixteen rounds daily. Lacking this purity the guidance and order of Krishna‘s devotee. I sometime look ahead to the uphill struggle on this The daughter of Vrisabhanu is most favorable to slippery path of bhakti-yoga and feel bewildered or Krishna. Another name for Sri Radha is anukulyena depressed. or favorable. The spiritual masters are the dearest companions of the daughter of Vrisabhanu. We Srila Prabhupada once told his disciples that he Gaudiya Vaisnavas worship Sri Radha-Krishna. had created their pious credits, or qualification to Actually Gaudiya Vaisnavas are more partial be Krishna conscious. I also feel that you are my to Radha than Krishna. The spiritual master is qualification to become an instrument of service nondifferent from Sri Radha (Sri Gauranga).

51 Cultivation of Krishna consciousness is done under Madhukänta Däsa Sri Radha‘s guidance and in subordination to Her. If we fail subordinate ourselves to Her representative, Hare Krishna dear Guru Maharaja! the spiritual master, we will not be able to cultivate Krishna consciousness or even please Krishna. Please accept my most humble obeisances, all Rather, we will only dance wildly for our own glories to Srila Prabhupada, all glories to Jayadvaita happiness. By renouncing such adverse mentality, Maharaja, all glories to you! such pride, and by serving Krishna under our guru‘s order, we will be benefited. There are innumerable living entities. They are eternal, full of knowledge and bliss, which are the This is my meditation for yours vyasapuja day. qualities of the unlimited source, the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna they are coming from. Still some of them Your aspirant for real servant, are under the influence of the illusory energy and are forgetting their position as eternal servants of Kåñëasmaraëaà Däsa the Lord. Service to the Supreme Lord is natural for the living being and is a source of its happiness, but in the state of bewilderment by the illusory Loka Säkñé Däsa energy it is trying to find happiness by satisfying its material senses and in this way gets entangled more Dear Guru Maharaj, and more in the net of actions and reactions of the three modes of material nature. He, Sri Krishna, is No words could express the gratitude I feel to you. Adi Guru, the original spiritual master who out of compassion for the conditioned living beings sends You mercifully offered the treasure of chanting the His representative to guide them on the way back Holy Names to me and thus you showed me the home, back to Godhead. way back to Godhead. It is a great fortune to get the mercy of the Supreme By your mercy I can now live with association of Lord who on the path of spiritual realization gives devotees and participate slightly on the service to guidance through the spiritual master, because the your unique mission. majority of beings in the material world prefers fulfillment of their dreams of happiness. I am exactly Again and again I thank you for this boundless this kind of fool, I am like a child, who is carried mercy. Again and again I offer deep obeisances to away by his uncontrolled mind towards different your lotus feet. games with the illusory energy and I don’t even know how it is possible that Krishna put me under Your eternal servant, your care.

Loka Säkñé Däsa I pray to come to my senses and in the same way how a child grows out from his childish games take

52 seriously your instructions about the importance of extend as I will be capable. engagement in devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. You are an example for Your forever indebted servant, me by your determination to be absorbed 100% in sravanam, kirtanam, in the process of devotional Madhu Pandit Däsa service and in spreading the mission of Srila Prabhupada. I thank the Supreme Lord that I can perceive in your personality a perfect self realized Mahäjana Däsa soul about whom Srila Prabhupada is talking in his books. Lieber Gurumaharaja,

Your humble servant, Bitte akzeptiere meine demütigen Ehrerbietungen, Jaya Jadvaita Swami, Madhukänta Däsa Jaya Srila Prabhupada.

Ich wünsche dir alles liebe und gute, Madhu Pandit Däsa sowie viel Gesundheit, auf das du weiterhin so viel Dienst für Krishna My Dearest Guru maharaja, machen kannst.

Please accept my humble obeisance. All glory to Im Srimad Bhagavatam 7.15.25 steht: Srila Prabhupada. All glory to Jayadvaita Maharaj. All glory to your holiness. rajas tamaç ca sattvena sattvaà copaçamena ca From the heart I would like to thank you for all etat sarvaà gurau bhaktyä that you are doing for me. Every day I hear, read, puruño hy aïjasä jayet or remember you instruction, which help me to be Krishna consciousness. It is due to you, that I try Man muss die Erscheinungsweisen to be Krishna consciousness as much as I could. der Leidenschaft und der You once opened my blind eyes by the torch of Unwissenheit bezwingen, indem man spiritual knowledge, and are you doing it again and die Erscheinungsweisen der Tugend again. Exactly as sing Srila Vishvanatha Chakravarti entwickelt, und daraufhin muss man sich Thakura. So thank you very much for that makes von der Erscheinungsweise der Tugend my life really lucky. lösen, indem man sich auf die ebene von suddha-sattva erhebt. All dies kann It is clear that I could never pay you back this debt, automatisch erreicht werden, wenn man so I honestly thank you very much and trying to dem spirituellen Meister mit Vertrauen fulfill your instruction in my life. Again, I hear you und Hingabe dient. Auf diese Weise kann voice: “Trying is not enough, you must do it!” Yes, man den Einfluss der Erscheinungsweisen you are right. I promise, that I will do it to that der Natur überwinden.

53 immer in irgendeiner Weise in den Dienst Krishnas beschäftigt und gibst Ich kann nur versuchen dir mit so ein lebendes Beispiel, wie man vertrauen zu folgen, und durch Krishnabewusstsein Praktizieren soll um deine Gnade vom Einfluss der den gewünschten Erfolg zu erreichen. Erscheinungsweisen befreit zu werden, weil du selbst ein Strikter Du bist sehr Barmherzig zu deinem Nachfolger deines Eigenen spirituellen Schülern, wünschst ihnen nur das Meisters bist und dieser Ebenfalls Beste und versuchst immer ihnen auf seinem Spirituellen Meister irgendeine weiße zu helfen sich in Nachfolgt. Das bedeutet, durch dein Krishnas dienst zu beschäftigen. Beispielhaftes Verhalten hältst du die Schülernachfolge intakt und ermöglichst All diese Eigenschaften, machen dich zu es deinen Schülern ebenfalls mit einem Perfekten Spirituellen Meister, Krishna in Kontakt zu kommen. der alle Anforderungen erfüllt, die in den Sastras gegeben werden folgst und Immer wenn ich dich reden höre ich werde weiterhin versuchen dir mit bemerke ich wie sehr du das Chaitanya Enthusiasmus zu folgen, Caritmarita und spiele sri Caitanya Mahaprabhus liebst und wie begeistert Dein ewiger Diener du davon erzählst und die tiefe Weisheit versuchst uns verständlich Mahajana Dasa zu machen. Du hast ganz offenbar die lehren sri Caitanya Mahaprabhus tief verwirklicht, denn du bist immer damit Manadäyiné Devi Däsé beschäftigt, den Heiligen Namen überall auf der Welt zu glorifizieren und zu My dearest Guru Maharaja singen. Dafür nimmst du alle möglichen Schwierigkeiten und Unannehmlichkeiten Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to auf dich und dennoch bist du Herr über Srila Prabhupada, All glories to Jayadvatia Maharaja. deine Sinne, ich habe dich noch nie Zornig gesehen, es sei denn jemand All glories to your lotus feet for taking the mission hat Devotees bedrängt. Das bedeutet of Lord Caitanya and the heartdeap desire of Srila natürlich auch das du den Angriffen von Prabhupada as your life and soul - namely to spread Lust Wiederstehen kannst, da Zorn aus Krishna consciousness world wide. Lust entsteht. Und auch Gier kann ich in deinem Charakter nicht entdecken. Often times here in Mayapur I meet visiting devotees from different parts of the world and it Darüber hinaus bist du äußerst demütig seems they all know you and they all appreciate you und lebst sehr einfach. Du bist with nice words.

54 55 Gradually I more and more see how special soul Maybe it is because I am your disciple for long time you are. You have great preaching mission in South now and a disciple takes up her Gurus mood and Africa, you constantly travel all around the world direction, that I myself have become fire for Hari and you catch the new little souls which call for a Nama Sankirtana, for being an active part in Lord help. Still you lovingly come back to your present Caitanyas mission. disciples and you motivate us to stay by Krishna´s lotus feet, to deepen our Krishna consciousness and We are now a very small team in Mayapur taking to have the hard fight with Maya under control. the first steps. As I am just the beggar asking for You´re our spiritual father who provide their children mercy - I beg you Guru Maharaja and ask you to with shelter and advices. I thank you many times please shower your mercy again and again upon this for your personal care, which you give to me but insignificant servant of yours. also to the others. To give so much care to all the disciples is surely exhausting and tiring. That only Hare Krishna. With deepest gratitude and proves how sincere and realised soul you are. You appreciation took this formidable task on your shoulders and you obliged yourself by the vow, that you take us Your humble servant, to Krishna. I pray to Krishna to always protect you during your missionary activity and to help you to Manadäyiné Devi Däsé fulfill this formidable task. Also I pray to don´t be an encumbrance to you and to only please you by my service and to be always obedient to your Maëi Kuëòala Devi Däsé instructions and to don´t disappoint you by any bad act. Hare Krishna dear Gurumaharaj, I´m unspeakably grateful and obliged to serve you Please accept my humble obeisances unto your countless of lifetimes by your lotus feet. lotus feet. Your servant, By the mercy of Lord Caitanya we received such a happiness, that we can participate in chanting Maëi Kuëòala Devi Däsé and spreading the Holy Names of Lord. And you, as surrended pure soul in the mood of servant of servant of the other servant, you have initiated us Manu Däsa and family into this transcendental sound vibration - Maha- mantra. That who even once hear or chant the Hare Dear Kadamba Kanana Swami, Krishna maha mantra could save himself from the circle of birth, old age, diseases and death, rescue This is Your Vyasapuja day and we like to bow down from the material world and become the eternal in Your Lotus feet and pray Your mercy. I wish You servant of Krishna in the spiritual world. remember Your insignificant servants.

56 You have come here to material world to safe glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Gurudasa conditioned souls so that they will not suffer so Jayadvaita Swami. All glories to you. much here and could understand their position as a spiritual being. I wish that we could also understand Where do I start that’s the big question? What do I that and tell that message to other people. say? The story starts when I was 13years old. I wrote you a letter asking you to be your disciple and to my When You sing the glories of Krishna, You give surprise you said yes then you gave me your cd and people so much inspiration and faith in Krishna on the cover you wrote me a message” May Krsna conciousness. I wish we can hear Your singing every and Prabhupada bless you to remain their devotee day and feel the exctasy. forever. I was so excited to see the message but You are a spiritual master coming down from I did not know what it really meant and I cannot disciplic succestion and You are a representative of say that I do now. This message stuck with me Krishna. I wish some day we understand that You throughout the years of struggles in my devotional are a manifestation of Krishna. life. I now look back and it has been almost 15 years. Looking back now it looks unbelievable that I Chanting the names of God is the essential method have made it this far. of selfrealisation in this age. I hope that by Your The trip was a bit bumpy and hard, it did not seem mercy we can also realise that. We can not try to that I will get this far but because I had a driver who aproach by our own efforts Lord Krishna. One has reassured me that even though the road is bumpy to serve a servant of Him. I wish that we no longer and hard I will still make it to my destination. I am have ‘selfmademans’ mentality. still on the road. I still have a long way to go but I know that my driver will get me there safe and You are the only shelter that help us when we suffer sound. I do not pray to Krsna to make the road and struggle here in the material world. I wish we smooth but I pray to him not to take away my can more and more surrender at Your lotus feet. driver. For you are an expect driver.

It is so sweet to have Your personal association. I I have gone crazy and got out of control throughout hope that we can feel it every day although we can the journey. However, you have managed to always not be with You personally so often. keep me calm and peaceful. It is not easy for me to be calm and peace but nothing can defeat your Your unqualified servants, love, care and commitment. Your appreance day mark a very important day in my life. Manu Däsa and family This day marks the beginning of a bright future with lots of love, care, and happiness. I could say thank Manukanyä Devi Däsé for all this but that is not good enough. I wish fully surrender my life at your feet but there is difficult Dear Guru Maharaj with a mind like mine. Therefore I am asking you on this journey to please pray that my mind becomes Please accept my obeisances at you lotus feet. All

57 the servant of you lotus feet. To every time of my life was it my principle NEVER I will go down on my knee in front of politic or other Your servant, things- only for god. You have to learn to knee in front of devotees and of course swamis that told Manukanyä Devi Däsé me a devotee from Irland. Never can I do that! I thought.

Marina Walter O.K. I’m slow with that. But in front of Kadamba Kanana Swami all my feeling and heard was right Hare Krishna with it. Just like my feeling want say: You have found what you are looking for. Just like a Devotee could inspired me for Krishna in the first moment soon, that I knew: That is it! I was Krishna has helped me to find Him and I want to go also enthusiastic about Kadamba Kanana Swami in on this way. I’ve been hoping with help from you, the first moment. Kadamba Kanana Swami. At first I liked his smile how he could happy with other. He smiled and I thought: This Swami is O.K. Thank you Krishna, that you have helped me to find and I will listen too if he says something. this way.

His voice was the reason that I was looking for him Hare Krishna in Internet. And all what I founded where was nice for me. Sometimes it is sad for me that I have no Marina Walter from Erfurt, Germany ask for him.- All clear like water from spring, if he explain some things. Marko Than I saw his book “The public hermit” I had to buy it. My feeling said: You have to read this book. Dear Çréla Gurudeva, And I have enjoyed it. Perhaps crazy, but I have written every word in my pc. Reason for it: I want Kindly accept my humble obeisances. All glories to translate it for other, because we have people that Çréla Prabhupäda. All glories to you. can’t understand English. But I have to admit, the words in English are standing there, but I haven’t In the Bhagavad-gétä As It Is the following verse begun to write the translation. could be found:

Since a short time a make meetings at my home and kärpaëya-doñopahata-svabhävaù I know I have to such for more courage to do it. I påcchämi tväà dharma-sammüòha-cetäù like to take the book from kadamba kanana swami, yac chreyaù syän niçcitaà brühi tan me because it is full of wise with his own humour, which çiñyas te ‚haà çädhi mäà tväà prapannam I like. It is nice to read and translate from it for other. It is with those words that Arjuna surrendered

58 to Kåñëa. At that time Arjuna was emotional. acquire such qualities, by Kåñëa’s mercy there will Grief stricken, confused and lost. He said he also manifest a person representing the eternal was kärpaëya-doñopahat, afflicted by some principle of guru-tattva, prepared to unselfishly give miserly weakness, and dharma-sammüòha- his whole existence to the service of Bhagavän. And cetäù, his otherwise fully dutybound and dharmic then, by focusing on your lotus feet who are readily consciousness has now become bewildered and reciprocating to whoever approaches even an inch, he can find no means to drive away his emotions. one shall find out that Kåñëa is so wonderful that No material wealth, Arjuna said, could ever be able He will help by encouraging guru-bhakti in sadhaka to help me and I understand that it is You alone - the force which attracts and bounds one to the who can tell me what is best. Yat çreyaù syät, qualities of Himself as manifested in yourself. There Arjuna asked, what the all good may be, tell me in is a verse in Sri Caitanya-caritamrita to confirm this: confidence, just instruct me, because çiñyas te ‚haà, kåñëa-çakti vinä nahe tära pravartana - without being I am now your disciple, mäà tväà prapannam, empowered by Kåñëa, no one can preach the holy surrendered unto You. In his purport to the next name of the Lord. verse Çréla Prabhupäda wrote: “He could understand that his so-called knowledge was useless in driving Once not so long ago you have explained how this away his problems, which were drying up his whole guru-bhakti works. You have explained that in the existence; and it was impossible for him to solve guru-disciple relationship Kåñëa is manifesting in the such perplexities without the help of a spiritual pure consciousness of the spiritual master. And this master like Lord Kåñëa. Academic knowledge, consciousness is coming down through the spiritual scholarship, high position, etc., are all useless in master to disciple and by the gradual process solving the problems of life; help can be given only the knowledge - consciousness - received by the by a spiritual master like Kåñëa.” disciple becomes ripened. Generally, you said, it’s given in the form of a seed which will gradually Çästra explained very nicely that spiritual master is sprout and grow and produce it’s fruit. In this way as good as Kåñëa because he is the form of Kåñëa the spiritual master’s consciousness is changing the which is visible, perceived, and therefore suitable consciousness of the disciple. Actually, you said, it’s for worship. Spiritual master is sevaka-bhagavän, the all about an instruction, but the instruction comes servitor Personality of Godhead and Kåñëa is sevya- from the consciousness and the consciousness bhagavän, the Supreme Personality of Godhead which is behind the instruction gives the meaning who is to be worshiped. Çri Guru is kåñëa-priya-jana, because the spiritual master lives it. And the disciple a very dear associate of Kåñëa. is able to see that. Yes, the disciple exclaims, my Guru is the embodiment of this instruction, and thus I have understood that the Bhagavad-gita As It Is the disciple has full faith in both the spiritual master continues to manifest it’s glories whenever there is a and his instruction. And then he can take it and bewildered jiva genuinely desiring to follow the ideal really dedicate his life to it. set by Arjuna to surrender fully, inquire submissively and serve Kåñëa Himself through the form of Your instruction is Prabhupäda’s, because your sevaka-bhagavän. Wherever such soul is about to consciousness is Prabhupäda:

59 päya bhakti-latä-béja, as i have understood. The prabhupäda haite päpa-saàsära-näçana essence of guru-kåpa. citta-çuddhi, sarva-bhakti-sädhana-udgama guru kåñëa-rüpa hana çästrera pramäëe Yes, the original word there is saìkértana, but guru-rüpe kåñëa kåpä karena bhakta-gaëe because there is no qualitative difference between Prabhupäda, saìkértana and you, so there is no fault It is confirmed in revealed scriptures that spiritual in using any of those synonyms. It is my conclusion master is the form of Kåñëa and thus we sing, janme that either one of you personalities has the same janme prabhu sei. As we are about to make it formal remarkable influence on disciple’s consciousness. by performing saàskära, i am fortunate to accept the fact that our relationship will not be finished So Krishna has undoubtedly done His part. But the after this life. It is eternal. The guru-çiñya relationship main question is, what is my part! Arjuna paved the is there, life after life. path and showed the correct attitude. There are many others who did the same, and included among The book bhägavata says that the devotees of the them are the kings imprisoned by Jarasandha. In the Lord are peacefully fixed in absolute knowledge and Çrémad-Bhägavatam we find the description of their they are just like a strong boat that comes to rescue unlimited glory and fortune. Right after Kåñëa killed persons who are at the point of drowning. “Talks their warder, what they actually said was, karma- between the master and the disciple are serious, and khända jïäna-khända kevala biñera bhända! “Never now Arjuna wants to talk very seriously before the again will we hanker for a miragelike kingdom.” recognized spiritual master.” “Please tell us how we may constantly remember Your lotus feet, though we continue in the cycle of I pray for your instruction, for bhakti-latä-béja. birth and death in this world.” I have nothing to give in return except some I should learn from the kings and follow in their allegedly respectful and humble obeisances. Please footsteps as they did the exact same thing Arjuna do accept them, if you’d like... did. They prayed not for liberation, not for enjoyment, not even for kåñëa-prema. Not even Your aspiring servant, for that! Kåñëa offered liberation, but no, out of their genuine humility - they declined. My dear lord Marko (Zagreb) and master, i don’t want that either. Please instruct me! Following in the footsteps of Arjuna and the saintly kings, this is what i want. Your instruction! I Merudevi Däsé want sädhana. I want the blissful, rewarding process which leads to the divine consciousness, the ability Hare Krisna my dear Gurudeva to attract Kåñëa. Not only the mere brahma-bhüta platform, but relationship with Him as He is, the Please accept my humble obeisancess. All glories Bhagavän. That is the essence of guru-kåñëa-prasäde to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Jayadvaita Swami, all glories, all glories to You dear Gurumaharaja.

60 61 kibä vipra, kibä nyäsé, çüdra kene naya Another year has passed and I have to admit that it yei kåñëa-tattva-vettä, sei ‚guru‘ haya felt like being in some kind of bubble… It was a test (C.C. Madhya Lila 8.128) and the opportunity and a clear sign that Krishna and you are taking care of me and protecting me. ,,Whether one is bráhmana, a sannyásí or a šúdra- Test in form of seeing what I am actually made of. regardless of what he is-he can become a spiritual Opportunity to prove that I really choose to be your master if he knows the science of Krsna.“ disciple in all the circumstances.

Šríla Prabhupáda says in his commentary: This You have been speaking about Holy Name being our verse is very important to the Krsna consciousness friend who follows us anywhere. That idea was my movement. Šrí Caitanya Maháprabhu informed grounding point, my center wherever I went during Rámánanda Ráya that knowledge of Krsna my last year. Many places that I did not consider consciousness is more important than caste. And my home became quickly home my chanting and whey? Because knowledge in Krsna consciousness is cooking for you and my Sri Sri Nitai-NimaiSundara. on the platform of the spirit soul. Reading Srimad Bhagavatam was another activity that kept me connected… You, dear Gurudeva, are one of these unadulterated vaisnavas. You constantly spread glory of holy I did try to do some preaching as instructed, and name throughout all planetary systems. That is the as I understood at the end, just being in India and greatest and the highest beneficence. Only because belonging to ISKCON was preaching in itself. All my of your unflinching following in the footsteps of actions were observed by working colleges, even great Mahájanas, we can also taste nectar from the people I never met would study my appearance ocean of Krsna consciousness. I received holy name and my conduct. So I was forced to represent from you. Thus I‘m your debtor. Srila Prabhupada and you even if I was not up to standard on the inside… that reminded me of your Dear Gurudeva I will try to repay it. words before I left for India ” India is the land of Bharata, there is no place like it on the planet… Your eternal servant India is place with a lot of spirituality…” well, to say in short it was very unique and intense experience Merudevi Däsé and made me hopefully a better devotee.

Throughout all of my time there I could see that you Näma-rüpa Devi Däsé and Krishna were guiding me and protecting me. I was guided to associate and serve with some of the Dear Guru Maharaj most wonderful devotees, and I am very grateful for that. And I was protected for all kinds of harmful Please accept my humble obeisances. circumstances. It was not all the dance on rose All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to Srila petals, but it was very educational and I hope not to Jayadvaita Swami!

62 forget any of it. One thing is sure, I really hope this first step toward success. would be my last birth! I remember one of yours Bhakti-śästri lectures in Thank you for this wonderful opportunity to grow in Mäyäpur, when you mentioned how His Divine spite of my obstinate nature! Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda (in His lecture [BG 6.40-43]) deals with failure: „But Dear Guru Maharaja, you know my heart and you Krsna says that this failure is not, I mean to say, know my conditioning, I beg you kindly keep me unsuccessful. As we have sometimes the proverb, super-glued to your lotus feet and compassionately that ‚Failure is the pillar of success,‘ so especially in accept me again and again in all my attempts to the spiritual life, this failure is not discouraging. This serve you. failure is not discouraging.“

Your servant and your mercy case So with head bowed and palms joined, I come before you on this day of your Vyäsa-püjä to admit Näma-rüpa Devi Däsé my failings, to repent, and to beg you for the strength to become a surrendered disciple at your lotus feet. Navadvépa Däsa Vyäsa-püjä is one day, set aside each year, to show Dear Guru Mahäräja, our love for Śrila Vyäsadeva, the śaktyäveśa-avatära who compiled much of the Vedic literature, and the Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to disciplic succession coming from him. Śrila Prabhupäda. All glories to Jayadvaita Swami. I am very pleased that you have taken up this oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä mission of spreading the Köşća consciousness cakñur unmilitaà yena tasmai çri-gurave namaù movement all over the world. This is the wish of Śri Caitanya Mahäprabhu, that: yäre dekha, täre kaha HH Giridhäri Swami speaks about seven failures: (1) köşća-upadeśa: everyone you see or meet, tell him not chanting the holy name without offense; (2) not about Köşća; ämära äjńäya guru hańä tära ei deśa: taking enough time to study and teach the books and by My command you become a guru and save of Śrila Prabhupäda; (3) not seeking the association this land. [Cc. Madhya 7.128] and guidance of advanced Godbrothers; (4) not taking every opportunity to preach to the devotees It is said in [BG 4.34]: „Just try to learn the truth and those not yet devotees; (5) not caring for the by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from devotees as much as possible; (6) not developing him submissively and render service unto him. The projects that are within our reach; and (7) not doing self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you everything to improve ISKCON locally and globally. because they have seen the truth.“

Similarly, I feel very ashamed to even stand before To receive the transcendental knowledge we must you, but maybe this admission of failure will be the

63 completely surrender ourselves to the real bona He is Supreme Lord´s first servant. Eventhough He fide spiritual master in a spirit of ardent inquiry is the Lord Krsna Himself, he´s playing the role of a and service. Actual performance of service to the servant. Krsna is very mercyfull to us, conditioned Supreme Absolute Personality of Godhead under servants, since He´s giving us the chance to serve the guidance of the bona fide spiritual master is Lord Balarama in His form as spiritual master. It´s the only vehicle by which we can assimilate the certainly a great good luck to get the opportunity transcendental knowledge. to become the servant at the lotus feet of such spiritual master. Today’s meeting for offering our humble services and homage to your lotos feet will enable us to Dear Gurudeva, be favored with the capacity of assimilating the transcendental knowledge so kindly transmitted by I am not a devotee who travels with his Guru all you to all persons without distinction. around the world. I was not even able to learn english to be able to relish and use your association Therefore, on this auspicious day of Śri Vyäsa-püjä, better. I don´t even accept any special austerity we humbly pray for your blessings that we may as many of my brothers and sisters who surely always be able to hear your teachings, even though please you so much. But still you are present in we may not fully understand them, and that we may each and every day of my life. If you wern´t there, have the opportunity to always render service to Lord Balarama and Lord Krsna wouldn´t be there your lotus feet, even though we are not qualified to either. Through the mercy of spiritual master, the do so. material life may become non material, valuable and nice. The material life we had lived so many times Therefore, I fall at Your feet, offer all obeisances already. But the mentality is to take and to exploit. unto You and pray to become a perfect instrument What good does this mentality or consciousness in Your service. bring? The spiritual life means to serve Gouranga and to teach others to serve Gouranga. All Your humble servant, glories to you Gurudeva, because you are giving Navadvipa däsa God consciousness to others. You are giving me knowledge, inspiration and determination to do at least that little service I can do. I bow down with Päda-paìkaja Däsa respect at your lotus feet hundred and thousand times in whatever day time and I do so consciously Hare Krsna Dear Gurudeva not out of a ritual.

Please accept my humble obeisances. Thanks and glories to you my spiritual master at this All glories to Srila Prabhupada and to Lord Balarama. auspicious day of your appearance.

One who wants to become the servant of Krsna Your insignificant servant, must first become the servant of Balarama. Lord Päda-paìkaja Däsa Balarama teaches us how to be servant , because

64 Palékä Devé Däsé and Pada Kamala mane äçä

Hare Krsna dear Guru Maharaja! One who desires spiritual progress must follow the authorised orders of the spiritual master. All glories to His Holiness Jayadvaita Swami! All glories to His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada! Thank You very much, Your servant, oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä Palékä Devé Däsé and Pada Kamala cakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù

Krsna is the origin of everything, both material and Parama karuëa Däsa spiritual existence. He is within us and all around us. Nothing exists without Krsna and Krsna is Hare Krishna dear Guru Maharaja everything. The perfection of life is to gain pure love of Him and pure devotees always think about I pay my respectful obeisances at the dust of your Him and whatever they do they devote only to His lotus feet. service. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to His Holiness Jayadvaita Maharaja.

A lot of living entities are wandering throughout the All Glories to you. whole universe and only a few have the fortune of meeting with a pure devotee and get the It is almost ten years since you have accepted me opportunity of knowing devotional service. as a disciple and gave me the shelter of your lotus feet. On the occasion of your Vyasapuja I would like

A child is first born to a mother and father and then to thank you for doing so. Thank you for saving this it is born again to a spiritual master and Vedas. In foolish rascal who deserves nothing but shame. this way the spiritual master is a second father. But for me He is the only one - even if He is considered By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives to be the second. the benediction of Krishna. Without the grace of the spiritual master, one cannot make any advancement. yasya prasädäd bhagavat-prasädo I understand that anything auspicious comes to me yasyäprasädän na gatiù kuto ‚pi is just because of your mercy.

By pleasing the spiritual master one can get You are always engaged in Harinam Sankirtan. extraordinary power especialy for spiritual progres. Always busy with spreading message of Krishna Blessing of the spiritual master is more powerfull consciousness. Like Narada Muni you are always then our own endeavour to achieve this progress. traveling and bringing the mercy of the Lord to the conditioned souls.

Narotama Das Thakur therefore says: guru-mukha- padma-väkya, cittete koriyä aikya, är nä koriho You are always absorbed in hearing and chanting about Krishna. With your enthusiastic kirtans and

65 deeply absorbed and realized Krishna-katha you always enthuse all the devotees in a very distinctive I live in more and more active times. Responsibilities way. You tirelessly distribute Krishna’s mercy are growing (spiritual and material too) and push without taking care of your own convenience. on my head. Will I be a good carrier? I pray that under the burden of life I can find refuge in your You are always strict to yourself and very instructions, in your lectures and in your glorifying broadminded to others. Showing no interest in of Sri Krsna more and more. As I told you once material affairs you are always engaged with that it seems to me you never leave the passanger activities of pure devotional service.You are always seat next to me in my car (where I often got highly giving the best example of a proper Vaishnava valuable instructions from you), similarly I pray that behavior to all. I never act in that way that my deeds force you to leave my heart. The only way how to make my life successful is to develop an attachment to your lotus feet, to your Exactly opposite, I will try my best to serve you in instructions and to service for you. I can perfectly such way that my personal egoistic desires go in purify myself just by immersing myself in attentive backround (at best completelly vanish) and that your listening of your words. You are my best friend, my desire to spread message of Lord Caitanya all over master and my ever well-wisher. the world is fullfilled also with my small and tiny help. Thank you for all you are and thank you for accepting me as your servant. Your servant, I beg for opportunity to stay in the shade of your lotus feet and serve you eternaly. Parameçvara Däsa That service is the only valuable thing in my life and in fact it is the only thing I have at all. I pay my obeisances in the dust of your lotus feet Pärijäta Devi Däsé again and again. Hare Krsna our dear Gurumaharaja, Your insignificant servant, Our dear spiritual father, Parama karuëa Däsa Please accept my most humble obeisances,

Parameçvara Däsa All glories to Srila Prabhupada, all glories to Jayadvaita swami, all glories all glories to You Dear Guru Maharaja, All this world is one family and You - through the Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to mercy of Lord Gauranga and Srimati Radharani, who Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Jayadvaita Swami. All is empowered to take care of living beings - You are glories to you! trying to remind and to wake up the sleeping souls

66 67 which are very dear to our Lord and to bring them in love of separation from His beautiful dhama Sri back to Him. Vrindavan. I thank You so much for it Gurumaharaja. It is so elevating to feel it in Your company. I thank Our dearest spiritual father, with the touch of your You for it. It fulfills us all with the same love and mercy everyone gets more beautiful and they are protect us from oblivion of our dear Lord. I thank awakened and prepared to go back home. And Lord Krsna so much, that You came into my heart because Krsna has send You and he allowed us to and placed Your lotus feet for me to worship them love You this way, He give us the possibility to love forever and to protect this love to our dear Lord and Him self too. You. I thank You so much, I do not even know how to express how much... thank You endlessly for this Thank You ever so much! love, I wish for it to only grow and grow and to completely fulfill my soul. Your humble servant,

It is so beautiful to see You all the time in the loving Pärijäta Devi Däsé mood of our dear Lord Gauranga, the most merciful savior of the most fallen ones and simultaneously to see You in this endlessly loving mood of separation Premalatä Devi Däsé from our dear Lord in the mood of our dear Srimati Radharani. C.C.Madhya 1, text 58: Hare Krishna Dear Gurumaharaja! yaù kaumära-haraù sa eva hi varas tä eva caitra- Please accept my most humble obeisances. All kñapäs glories to Sri Sri Nitai Gouranga. All glories to Srila te conmélita-mälaté-surabhayaù prauòhäù Prabhupada, all glories to his invincible follower Srila kadambäniläù Jayadvaita Maharaja. All glories to you, faitful servant sä caiväsmi tathäpi tatra surata-vyäpära-lélä-vidhau of Guru-parampará and affectionate and potent revä-rodhasi vetasé-taru-tale cetaù samutkaëöhate saviour and leader of those who lost their true identity. „That very personality who stole away my heart during my youth is now again my master. These are Recently I red in the book of your quotations the same moonlit nights of the month of Caitra. The „Nothing but the Holy Name“ very nice thing: same fragrance of malati flowers is there, and the same sweet breezes are blowing from the kadamba „That transcendental flute player, Krsna, is now forest. In our intimate relationship, I am also the present in His holy name and I am having the good same lover, yet still my mind is not happy here. I am fortune that I´m allowed to chant.“ eager to go back to that place on the bank of the Reva under the Vetasi tree. That is my desire.“ Every day I thank to Krishna because although I´m not qualified He gave me books of Srila Always You are immersed in love to our dear Lord Prabhupada, association of ISKCON devotees, and You, my Spiritual Master. Fearless personality full

68 of compasion and tolerance, who is distributing the who you are happily engaging in Srila Prabhupada´s jeweler of Holy Name to all the Kali-yuga Jagai´s mission. I´m very grateful to be part of this „KKS and Madhai´s just like Lord Nityananda did. Thank family“ and cannot wait for that moment I will be you my Dear Gurumaharaja for being the Torchlight purified enough to be used as Krishna´s instrument in the darkness of doubts and worries born from according to your will. the ignorance. Day by day I understand more how much you had change my life. The orders you are Because you told me, „My blessings you already telling us in the classes and personal advices which have..“ I´m not asking for that but I promise you you are giving us on darshans are an infinite treasury dear Gurumaharaja, I will honestly try my best to of transcendental knowledge. become better disciple so you can use me in your service to Sri Guru and Gauranga. Once you told me, „ Srimad Bhagavatam we should read on and on like chanting our japa, from the Jananivas Prabhu said once in his lecture, that we beginning till the end and than start again. And with should pray to Lord Nrsimhadeva for 3 things: time more knowledge and more understanding we will get from the same transcendetal text.“ Same I Protection of ISKCON, realize by hearing your classes. Even while I listen Protection of our Spiritual Master and the oldest classes which I think I know backwards Protection of our own spiritual life still deeper and better understanding or sometimes new orders I´m getting from it. So now I am praying for it everyday while being in Sridham Mayapur! Thank you! Another thing I really value on you, that by having deep relationship with Srila Prabhupada you are Your insignificant humble servant, always absorbed in his words and pastimes and when you are sharing it with us I can feel Srila Premalatä Devi Däsé Prabhpada, his sence of humor, his fatherly love and all his amazing qualities present before me, and I can better relate to him. Puruñottama-kñetra Däsa

Because of your unlimited compasion and loving Gurudeva! affection Krishna gives you ability to be shelter for many spirit souls which are seeking how to get out My dearest daddy, why nobody likes me? When from everlasting circle of suffering in this material will my offenses end? When will I get a taste for the world. You are not giving only spiritual shelter but if Holy Name by the mercy of Krsna? some of your disciples need material support you help them Lord Krsna told Asvatthama: „You will have to without hesitation. You are a mystical artist, under endure the fruits of your sinful acts. For three your sensitive hands from unfortunate bewildered thousand years you will wander the earth, afflicted madmen grow up nice enthusiastic sincere devotees by disease and completely alone, unable to speak to anyone. Wretched and foul-smelling, you will dwell

69 in deep forests and dreary wastelands. At the end perform a variety of small activities. From the of this period, purified at last of your sins, you will Czech farm I take part in distributing Nitai-Gauranga ascend to the higher regions.“ mahaprasadam, helping Sastra Dana, helping with agriculture and gardening, serving as a joiner, Asvatthama, as an example for us, was exiled and preparing firewood for winter. I can have darsans suffering from others’s disregard as we do in this of beautiful Deities in the temple, remember Them, dangerous worldly existence. Bad character traits you, devotees, service, study, write, sing Krsna‘s have no place in devotional service. When the sun Holy Name and honor Bhagavat prasadam. I thank of Krsna comes, senseless dreams end. Sometimes you many times that I‘m happy in my service. I‘m in the mood of Kuruksetra battle but to accept correction or assistance from the authority, devotees This movement of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and to be open is very difficult. In my ignorance allows us to free ourselves from material existence, I adored this material world, living like a gorilla engaging in devotional service and thus to get rid Dvivida and eventually all my efforts were good for of false pride. Krsna continually teaches us from nothing. While in womb I promised - I‘ll certainly our heart, you, Guru Maharaja, by instructions worship you, O son of Nanda Maharaja - but soon from lectures and by example, Srimad Bhagavatam after entering this world I forgot about You. To by many examples of saints and devotees and by experience physical suffering is unnatural for us. associating with devotees we learn to become You, Gurudeva, gave me the greatest blessing, the servants. Deities give us Their mercy and people meaning of life, and life in devotion is very precious. on the street their experience which we ourselves Guru Maharaja, you‘re my only hope, you give me can avoid. Let’s be aware of the world we live in, strength to succeed in all tests. of what we do, for whom we give up results of our activities and enjoy our purification. Let’s not be Now I can no longer endure the pain of ignorance too detached in service (‘as it breaks, it breaks’). and repeated birth and death. The picture of our Not that ‘Krsna is very nice but now I have another spiritual master is a witness of all our activities and problems’. Our first obligation is the service to our because we do not die, the relationship with our guru. How could I leave this service? Krsna should Guru Maharaja continues eternally. To you we offer be everything to us - husband, father, mother, son, results of all our activities. In this service is attractive boss, superior Lord. Are we unselfish? its joy we get. Devotional service attracts Krsna’s attention and because devotees envy no one, they Guru inspires his disciples to make advancement. have all Lord’s blessings. We searched out a guru Let’s not look for errors in others, otherwise we to stop the cycle of birth and death. We humbly develop them ourselves. Are we ready to change accept service, even if we don’t feel like that. It’s a our life for spiritual progress? Not that ‘better times constant challenge to make spiritual progress so let’s already passed’. not throw this chance away. Let’s surrender to our beloved Guru Maharaja, After six years from my rebirth, from my initiation Kadamba Kanana Swami, here and now. by you, I can thanks to your mercy, Gurudeva,

70 Kadamba Kanana Swami ki jaya! You are keeping Your eye on me Gurudasa Jayadvaita Swami ki jaya! His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada ki jaya! Only few moments of your association can heal the most deadly wounds of offenses I constatly commit In the serving mood wrote an unworthy shadow of and just remembering you is giving me hope. a disciple, Srila Prabhupada writes in purport to the verse 220 Puruñottama-kñetra Däsa of Caitanya Caritamrta, Antya-lila:

„One will thus find that the devotees of Sri Caitanya Rädhä-känta Däsa Mahaprabhu are not at all attached to any kind of material enjoyment. They have completely given up nama om visnu-pádáya krsna prestháya bhú-tale sense enjoyment to engage fully in the service of srímate kadamba kánana svámin iti námine Lord Sri Krsna and dedicate their lives and souls to serving Krsna without material desires. Because their Dear gurumaharaja, devotional service is free from material desires, it is unimpeded by material circumstances.“ Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to His Divine Grace Srila Dear gurumaharaja, for Lord´s service You were Prabhupada! All glories to His Holiness Jayadvaita all those years overcoming all the impediments maharaja! All glories to you! and You continue with great enthusiasm saving the conditioned souls. You can ignite the fire of How is it possible that Lord Krsna is still keeping me devotional service, which is present in the hearts of in association of His devotees? How is it that I´m still all living beings. able to do some small service for Him? Thank you for everything. I usually don´t speak like this, but: Your insignificant servant, om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah Rädhä-känta Däsa

Seeing You before myself, my eyes can see the reality of things: Räjaçekhara Däsa

You gave me mercy Dear Guru Maharaja, You brought me up You showed me the way Please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to You are teaching me Srila Prabhupada, all glories to HH Jayadvaita Swami You are protecting me Maharaja, All glories to Your Divine Grace, on this You are tolerating me most auspicious day of Your appearance.

71 sri guru caran kamal bhaja mana, By some causeless mercy, I was fortunate in this guru krpa bina nahim koi sadhana-bala lifetime to have You as my Spiritual Master. You bhaja mana bhaja anuksana are expertly, step-by-step helping me become Krishna Conscious. As a true well-wisher, You are „Oh mind, just worship the lotus feet of the always tolerating my ignorance and immaturity, and bonafide spiritual master. Without receiving the engaging me in devotional service according to my mercy ot the pure devotee, one will not have the ability. potency to execute regulative spiritual practices. Therefore, o my dear mind, I urge you to worship You have wholeheartedly accepted the him at every moment.“ instructions of Srila Prabhupada and Your beloved Spiritual Master, and dedicated Your life to Lord This is the refrain of a traditional Hindi song which is Caitanya’s Sankirtan mission. And in the mood nicely describing the position of our Spiritual Master of Lord Caitanya, You are freely giving Krishna and how we should be always absorbed in His Consciousness to everyone who comes into contact worship. And I would add: Even if sometimes we fail with Your Divine Grace. to understand Him.

You are always helping us go deeper in our Krishna „It is said, that a saintly person is so pure that he Consciousness, by sharing so many of Your acts like a spotless mirror. When we come in the experiences with us, encouraging us to develop a presence of such a mirror-like soul, we can see taste for devotional activities, and leading by perfect both - the beauty and the ugliness of our inner life. example. Our faith and doubts, virtues and sins, strengths and weeknesses are revealed. It is both a joyfull and I pray, on this auspicious day, that I may eternally painfull experience.“ remain under Your divine shelter, and that I may be of some assistance in Your divine mission. When i read this in the autobiography from Srila Radhanath Swami my mind immediately went Your servant, to You and my experiences with your presence throughout the last years. Räjaçekhara Däsa (Durban, South Africa) Yes it‘s very obvious - you are such a saintly person. Usually some days, or even hours in your presence Revaté Devi Däsé are changing so much, everything becomes clear It‘s true, we have to develop our „own“ strength (is Hare Krsna, my dear Guru-Maharaja it ever OUR strength?) But at the same time we are not independent. Please accept my most humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila You are so gracious with us, with me. Usually you Jayadvaita Maharaja. All glories to You. will not object to plans and ideas. And that‘s not,

72 73 because the ideas are so great, but just because a situation - perhaps just to learn this lesson. Again you have so much faith in the process of Devotional some changes will take place. Soon i will know, but Service and the chanting of the Holy Name. while writing this i don‘t know yet what will be the final result. Please rest assured that i am doing my Like somehow i read or heard in one of your best not to act in a mental or sentimental way. But classes that even if our chanting is „poor“ Krsna will circumstances (or Krsna?!) will bring some changes. appreciate it, thinking : „Oh, how nice, this devotee is so week, struggles so much and still continues.“ So please, be mercyfull with me, help me to This was giving some hope to me. Hope, that one understand Krsna‘s desires on a deeper level. Even day Krsna may listen to my poor chanting and if (sometimes ?) my questions seem to be about bestow His literally causeless mercy uppon me. external matters - that‘s not my intention, but just because of my „practical“ nature. And because in What else can i do but relay on this hope. Often Your presence i am always talking and acting like a You are talking about „hope against hope“ and fool. In other words: i realize my position. that‘s nice again. Because as the years are passing by the body becomes weaker and the idea of But more than anything else i want to take eternally playing the role of a „hero“ becomes quite advantage of this unique opportunity to „do it in this rediculess for me. And the questions arise: „ What lifetime“. And i am convinced: I can‘t be successfull have i done for Krsna? Shouldn‘t i do more?“ without YOU! And if only sometimes, for a few moments, You think of me in a benevolent way and Some strength is there, but still most of all i am if Your blessings are with me, then finally Krsna will strong in my conviction that i will never be able to be mercyfull. really spiritually survive without you! Please protect me, please instruct me! Sometimes it seems to be Your eternal servant, impossible to follow Your advices and instructions and and the same time deal with external Revaté Devi Däsé circumstances and needs. In this moments i would be so happy to be able to just ask You for advice. Ñaòbhuja Däsa „Just surrender unto me!“ - Krsna says, but so often i fail to understand what Krsna wants from me. Dear Guru Maharaja Finally it came to my mind He wants me to give up all this anxiety about „what to do now?“ and to Please accept my humble obeisances just faithfully wait what will happen, what He will All Glories to Srila Prabhupada, Jayadvaita Maharaja arrange. To do my best however the situation may and You be, to be ready for anything and to let Him arrange for the rest. Once again it’s time to get to the essence of life, to realize, what’s my real position, to stand naked, ok It looks like at least once a year i have to be in such at least in kaupin, fool that I am.

74 This year I was asked to write an Introduction for my name in sadhu bushana dasa and since then I’m the Vyasapuja book and from the quotes found on meditating about developing the qualities of a sadhu, the topic I once more realized what an importance but so much to go, or in the words of one devotee, our tradition gives to the glorification of the spiritual I still have to grow into that pair of shoes. master. It’s not easy to change ones nature, to get rid of One nice quote I found is in Srimad Bhagavatam the demonic tendencies, old habits and ways of 3.6.36, Srila Prabhupada writes in the purport: thinking.

“This glorification of the Lord is not a product of Your practical instructions and example remain, You research, but the result of hearing submissively can see, what is needed, what I’m lacking, or is too from the authority of the spiritual master. It is also much. not possible to repeat all that one has heard from his spiritual master, but one can narrate as far as What you say carries weight and reveals a deeper possible by one‘s honest endeavor. It does not vision, than I can come up with. matter whether the Lord‘s glories are fully explained or not.” Thank You for support and guidance, besides all my shortcomings. May I always find shelter under your As Nityanandas representative, you are the moon lotus feet, may I always listen to your good advice on the sky of my life. I can’t see the sun of Krishna, and may I honestly please you more and more with can’t perceive it directly, since I’m still, after all this the years passing. years, living in the darkness of ignorance. But You, by reflecting the sun, being a transparent via media Your humble servant, of Krishna and Srila Prabhupada shed light in my life. I can find my way through the intriquecies of life’s Ñaòbhuja Däsa situations and decisions. The cooling rays of your mercy and patience make all my shortcomings and Samira en Raimond mistakes tolerable. My mind can find shelter and my faith gets nourished. All glories to Srila Prabhupada I’m a sinful beggar and you are the embodiment of All glories to Jayadvaita Maharadja eternal spiritual principles, which I have fallen from. All glories to you, Kadamba Kanana Maharadja

I’m a dwarf drying to catching the moon - Please accept our humble obeisances seemingly so close, since you are so personal, but on the other hand further away than I can even Dear Maharaja, perceive. Although I’m unfit, a desire to receive your mercy has awakened in my mind. We want to wish you a very auspicious and a happy appearance day. You told me ones that you would have changed

75 You are a great inspiration to us because you are so All glories to Srila Prabhupada. fixed in Krishna consciousness twenty-four hours All Glories to Jayadvaida Swami. a day, seven days a week. You are able to touch All glories to you. our hearts every time. The way you’re living your Krishna consciousness life is an example to us. You There are not enough words to describe how make us forget about our miseries. Thank you for all grateful I am that you have given me shelter. your causeless mercy. If I may only please you and follow your instructions, then I am fully satisfied. I am eternally We did not meet each other often the past year and in debt to you. partly that has to do with our mindstate. We are so polluted by the material world but we hope to never Thank you for guiding me closer to Krishna, giving forget Sri Krishna and the devotees. me spiritual advice so I can be a better devotee, and marital advice so I can be a better wife and mother. We hope to see you more the coming years. We found out that our biggest problem in life is to Somehow you are always there for me, and I surrender. hope that I can please you with spreading Srila We hope that you will be amongst us for many Prabhupadas mission in Oslo. years to come. To express our feelings, we will end our little One year ago I took shelter from you, and since that offering to you in Dutch: day my life changed. Thank you.

Wij zullen proberen niet als slap deeg achter te Your eternally aspiring servant blijven maar mee te gaan met de broodjes Sanätané Devé Däsé Anders gaan straks de broodjes naar Krishna en blijven wij als slap deeg achter Sevä-kuïja Devé Däsé Het recept is daar maar het afbakken wil nog niet lukken. Dear gurudeva!

Je dienaren in wording, Please accept my humble obeisances in the dust of Your lotos feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada, all Samira en Raimond glories to my gurumaharaja.

I am thinking what to write you at the opportunity Sanätané Devé Däsé of your Vyasapuja. I am not such self-realized and advanced that I could appreciate your value. So My dear Maharaja. please forgive me that I do not feel such depth of appreciation in my heart as you deserve. Please accept my humble obeisances.

76 Thank you for understanding my life and your deep You are very dear servant of His Holiness Jayadvaita compassion. Swami and Srila Prabhupada and through you; we Thanks for knowledge that you so slowly and are connected to the parampara. patiently teach me. Thanks for your hope and strong faith that you carry We remember how we were with you in Radhadesh in your heart. Your dedication to preaching in spite last year, and you just came from busy South Africa of exhaustion and physical discomfort is so valuable. tour but still you were making effort to see and Still more and more I realize how much I need you - talk to every one of us. Its your tireless effort to pure devotee is not different from KRSNA. bring each and everyone to the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada, that has purchased us. I recall when I wish I were blessed in your thoughts so I could we had Sydney Rath Yatra and you were sick but make spiritual advancement and serve you, dear you still decided to go and led enthusiastic kirtan. eternal gurumaharaj. The year before, on the way back from the Sydney Your eternal servant, Rathyatra, I forgot where we parked our car. So I and my husband were looking for the car and it was Sevä-kuïja Devé Däsé raining also. When my husband went to look for the car leaving all of us behind, I was very lost and confused, but then I saw you, how you immediately Smita Kåñëa Devi Däsé took the beads and started chanting, you did not waste your moment nor you appeared lost like me, nama om visnu-pádáya krsna prestháya bhú-tale you were completely at ease and you did not laugh srímate kadamba kánana svámin iti námine at my embarrassing moment. That impression is still there is my mind and I am thinking will I also be able Dear Gurumaharaj, to pick up the beads and start chanting when the bewildering situation will come. I guess I want to Please accept our humble obeisances at your lotus prepare for those moments. feet, All glories to Srila Prabhupada and all the Vaisnavas On next Ratha Yatra, when I stayed back to prepare lunch, my husband gave me beautiful On this auspicious day, I would like to take the garland of yours. One of the name of Krishna opportunity to wish you very happy appearance is Acuyta meaning that he never fails to notice day. service of his devotees, in a similar way, you also appreciated very little service of mine. It is all auspicious because Gurumaharaj is mentioned as shaksad haritven, as good as supreme From your regular visits to Sydney Australia, we personality of godhead, and this day is giving us continue to derive strength for our spiritual life. Srila opportunity to express our gratitude and to glorify Gour Govinda maharaj is mentioning in one of the you. lecture that:

77 such devotees of the lord are honoured equally with “When good fortune arises the jiva meets sad- the Lord. May I pray to your Lotus feet that in our guru, Sri Guru. The life in which the darsana of spiritual life whatever is important to you may also Sri Guru takes place is a very, very successful life. become important to us. That is good fortune. Seeing Gurudeva, having the darsana of Gurudeva means to receive the mercy of Gurumaharaj, Thank you for this day, of your nice Gurudeva. We may see Gurudeva with these eyes, relationship of servant and master that we have with but if Gurudeva casts his merciful glance on us then u, thank you for connecting us to Srila Prabhupada. it should be understood that we are very fortunate.” Thank you for tolerating our meagre offering.

So it is our supreme good fortune to see you in All glories to you. Srila Prabhupad Ki Jay. our hometown twice a year, every year. When we were leaving Radhadesh last year, you told me to Your insignificant servant, put the tape on while doing some house work. You said it always works with women; you were so Smita Kåñëa Devi Däsé true, now when I cook, I put your lecture on and it immediately connects me to your vani. From the Kitchen, it lifts me in to temple room and feels like Sukhayanti Devi Däsé you are sitting on vyasasana and giving Bhagavatam class and we are hearing. This is all possible I guess Dear guru maharaja, because Jananivas prabhu, regularly uploads your classes on your website and we eagerly download Please accept my humble obeisances. them all. All glories to your servant. All glories to Srila Prabhupada, all glories to Jayadvaita Swami and all glories to you. Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1.15 says that Another year has passed. And a lot has happened yat-päda-saàçrayäù süta in this year. New beginnings, new places, a lot of munayaù praçamäyanäù changes, but all through it you were always with sadyaù punanty upaspåñöäù me. I by now already have learned that it is not your svardhuny-äpo ‚nusevayä personal presence, not the emails (even though they are both important and very much needed) „O Suta, those great sages who have completely that I feel your presence and guidance in my life, taken shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord can at but it is through your instruction, and my desire and once sanctify those who come in touch with them, effort to follow them and to please you that you are whereas the waters of the Ganges can sanctify only always with me. after prolonged use.“ Last meeting we had you again showed me how So like that we come in touch with your vani and extremely personal you are in your dealings with get purified, Prabhupada writes in the purport that your disciples. It seems to me that you don’t desire to have artificial relationships of awe and reverence

78 79 but rather real, personal, deep and meaningful oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä relationships between two individuals. I sometimes cakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù feel that you, just like a loving father, already know me without me having to explain. You have already „I was born in the darkest ignorance, and my figured me out. And all I have to do is faithfully spiritual master opened my eyes with the torch of follow while you carry me, or more accurately drag knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto me back to Krishna... him.“

I don’t want to make false promises of conquering The last year was full of challenges - health, the world or even just Toronto, nor of becoming relationships, service. On the way I got off track, the purest of the pure. I don’t want to promise the but due to Your mercy and even direct involvement world on the Vyasa Puja day, just for the sake of things are gradually getting set in line again. Thus, promising, because it is the standard. I can find myself in a more peaceful and stable situation, which helps me to once again work on I do hope, however, that I can somehow or other improving my sadhana and service, especially in be allowed to be engaged in Krishna’s service, quality. The many precious instructions You gave always. I hope that I will be allowed to help even to me the last year remain with me on my way and one soul find his way back to Krishna, or help make give me strength and direction - like stars in the sky that journey easier. I just pray to always remain in that always provide direction whenever I might get Krishna’s service no matter what happens in life lost. However, oftentimes I find myself struggling to or how difficult and challenging it may become, properly follow them, even though the desire to do and I pray that the faith in you and love that I have so is there. I wish I could be more determined and for you today, as my spiritual guide and father, will fixed as to please You - with my activities, attitude, never decrease but only increase. Please accept words. whatever service I am able to do, and always engage me in more. I pray to You for Your mercy knowing that it works wonders. It reminds me of BG 7.7: „O conqueror of Your servant, wealth, there is no truth superior to Me. Everything rests upon Me, as pearls are strung on a thread.“ Sukhayanti Devi Däsé Your mercy is the cause of all my good fortune. Whenever I meet with good fortune I know that this is definitely only because of Your causeless mercy. Sukumäré Devi Däsé There is no other reason. Thus, arrangements are being made that bring me closer and closer to Hare Krishna dear Gurumaharaja, Krishna.

Please accept my most humble obeisances at Your Please always keep me close to Your lotus feet. lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Your aspiring servant, All glories to Jayadvaita Swami Maharaja. Sukumäré Devi Däsé (Radhadesh)

80 Sutapä Däsa The vaisnava is a kind friend to all, and conquers people through genuine concern, love and affection. Dear Guru Maharaja, They are rooted in the spiritual realm, but endear themselves to the world by having a human side. Please accept my humble obeisances, You are that vaisnava. All glories to Srila Prabhupada You have bestowed tonnes of mercy upon me. Your In your lectures, conversations, correspondence inspiration, conviction and words of encouragement and life example, you keep hammering home are my support, and I am trying to become the key instructions. Today I am taking some time vaisnava that you want me to be. I took the guru- to remember those jewel-like instructions, and disciple relationship casually, now I am realising how rededicating myself to making them my lifetime heavy it is. Everyday it becomes more clear how project. much I depend on you. Thank you for everything,

“Live a life of sacrifice...” I beg to remain,

A vaisnava’s life is a life of service. Working for the At your transcendental disposal, benefit of Guru, Gauranga and all living entities, a true vaisnava finds themself by forgetting about Sutapä Däsa themself. They are always in the spirit of giving. The vaisnava doesn’t take the easy, comfortable or safe options – they take the option that will be most Svayam Bhagavän Däsa pleasing to Krishna. You are that vaisnava. Dear Maharaj,

“Dive deeper into the ocean of Bhakti...” nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale

A vaisnava’s life is fully engaged in hearing and çrémate kadamba kanana-svämin iti nämine chanting the glories of Krishna. They study the books with great relish, always deriving fresh Maharaj, please accept my humble obeisances. realisations and sharing that wisdom in a way which All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Srila transforms people’s hearts. The vaisnava goes Jayadvaita Maharaj. All glories unto You. deep like a shark. The Bhagavatam is their constant companion. You are that vaisnava. In Caitanya Caritamrita (Madhya lila 2.49) it is mentioned that,

“It’s not about what you do, it’s about who you are...” çuddha-prema-sukha-sindhu, päi tära eka bindu, sei bindu jagat òubäya

A vaisnava is fully decorated with saintly qualities – nobility, compassion, tolerance, magnanimity. “Unalloyed love of Kåñëa is like an ocean of happiness. If someone gets one drop of it, the

81 whole world can drown in that drop.” Vyasa Puja day. And one year has passed since my initiation into the family of your disciples. I have Maharaj, You have unlimited love for Krishna and it gotten to know quite a few of them since then, is simply charming our heart and creating unlimited and all of them, in their own way, remind me of my happiness in our heart. This is the experience good fortune of having been accepted as a disciple felt by everyone whether young, old, educated, of yours. uneducated, cultured, uncultured and so on. You have said we should make our spiritual lives dhérädhéra-jana-priyau priya-karau nirmatsarau püjitau thick like amrta keli – heavily condensed sweet rice. The thickness of our spiritual lives depend on our “Six Goswamis are just like the ocean of love of relationships to guru, sadhu and of cause Gauranga. God, and they are popular both with the gentle and We express the importance of relationships through with the ruffians, because they are not envious of activities, and I know nobody as active as you. You anyone.” are constantly engaged in transcendental activities for the pleasure of Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His Maharaj whenever I asked guidance about youth associates. This was very obvious on our trip to preaching You always said, “As a preacher expecting Bangladesh last year. Wherever we went, everybody standards from new devotees is important but the wanted a piece of you. And nobody was left most important is kind heartedness towards them. disappointed. I lost count of how many programs This is Mahaprabhu’s movement, there is a place for we did and how many holy places we visited. That everyone”. trip was such an amazing experience for me.

Maharaj, only Your kind heartedness is keeping In January I had the opportunity to go to Ter me alive in Krishna Consciousness, otherwise I am Kadamba forest. I met Ter Kadamba baba there, struggling and failing in every step. Maharaj, please and when I told him my name, his eyes lit up and save me. he exclaimed something to the extent of: “wooop bub bub Haree Krishna!” in a high pitched voice. Your servant, He then proceeded to dress me up in a blue silk chaddar and tied a yellow ribbon around my head. Svayam Bhagavän Däsa He handed me a small mirror and enthusiastically asked me if I could see how I looked like Krishna (very sweet of him since, in reality, I looked very Ter Kadamba Däsa silly and not at all like Krishna). I smiled in ecstatic nervousness and bowed my head with folded hands. Dearest Guru Maharaja, He then fed me sweet rice and pastry. I effectively left the material world, while he enacted pastimes of Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Sri Sri Radha and Krishna, Balarama and the Gopis. Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Jayadvaita Swami. My meditation is, how unlimitedly powerful guru kripa is. If not for you none of this could happen. One year has passed since we last celebrated your

82 spiritual benefit. Maharaj, you are a brilliant example I am writing about these events because I consider of a preacher in Lord Caitanya’s movement. them yours. You are the beginning, middle and end One of your countless good qualities is the ease of my spiritual life. I am a fool and a rascal, devoid with which the younger devotees (and the young of good qualities. These are facts. I take solace in at heart) of ISKCON can relate to you. Personally, the fact however, that no matter how fallen I am, I find it more encouraging to learn from your own still I am rightly situated simply because you have experiences and light hearted humor. accepted me. I have had the great fortune of reading some I pray for your blessings, that I may remain in your lectures and other writings on your website and service. blog which are a great educational instrument in my spiritual life. To be able to view the photos of your Your most thankful servant, captivating journeys throughout the world also helps us stay connected to you. I’m eternally grateful to Ter Kadamba Däsa you for granting us these opportunities.

Thank you for your mercy and association Maharaj. Thirushnee Melissa Govender I pray that you continue to receive unlimited blessings as well as the devotional service of Srimati nama om visnu-pádáya krsna-prestháya bhú-tale Radharani, Lord Krishna, Sri Guru and Gauranga. srímate bhaktivedánta-svámin iti námine May you have a wonderful vyasa puja day and years more ahead! namas te sárasvate deve gaura-vání-pracárine nirvisesa-súnyavádi-páscátya-desa-tárine I hope you may forgive me for all my offences caused in this offering. Dear Kadamba Kanana Swami Your servant, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! Thirushnee Melissa Govender (Durban, South Africa)

It is most difficult to express in words, all that you have given to the devotees of ISKCON but in my Tulasé Däsa meager attempt these are just a few that comes to mind. Hare Krishna dear Guru-Maharaja,

Thank you for the ocean of mercy that you have Please accept my humble obeisancess. All glories bestowed upon the devotees, especially here in to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Srila Jayadvaita South Africa. In every African township and village, Swami. every soul that hears your jubilant kirtan sounding out through the streets will certainly obtain immense The Spiritual Master is incarnation of Krsna‘s

83 mercy. Without his mercy one cannot get directly thing comes in my mind is the gift of Mercy. Last the mercy of Krsna. Only when one is ready to year, on a very auspicious day of Vijayadashami you take subordinate position at the feet of Krsna‘s showered mercy on me by initiating in the line of representative he can advance is spiritual life. Brahma Gaudiya Vaishnava Sampradaya. Initially, I was thinking that I was immature to get initiated; Only by Your mercy I am on a safety ground and however, as time is passing by I started realizing that my life is not wasted. you have extended mercy of Caitanya Mahaprabhu on this unworthy fallen soul. I must admit Gurudev I am reading CC at the moment and there that initiation has made me a responsible person page after page it is described how Sri Caitanya to keep my vow, limiting anarthas, in dealing Mahaprabhu was engaged in kirtan almost all the with Vaishnavas, to live in and spread Krishna time, day after day, night after hight. I see in you consciousness. person who continue to keep alive this mood of Mahaprabhu‘s movement. I remember once you mentioned in your lecture here in Sydney,Australia that Prabhupada wouldn’t I am thinking what can I offer you in exchange to all be happy if he sees the cleaning standard in the mercy and time that you gave me. I hope soon to temple. I took your words seriously and started become more mature and experience to be able to thinking how to execute your order. Now, I am help you more. I can offer you my loyalty and try to happy to tell you my Gurudev that I am in charge be more steady and fixed in following your orders of the cleaning team who does the cleaning every and performing my devotional service. Sunday in the temple. I am making sure that this time when you visit Sydney temple you will assure Please be merciful to me and allow me to remain us that Prabhupada is happy by looking at the clean your servant. temple.

Your servant, You also made me excited when you mentioned next day after the Faith retreat at Govinda Valley Tulasé Däsa that you are looking for friends and would like to see your disciples to be as your friend. This has really helped me to get comfortable and open my Tuñöa Kåñëa Däsa heart when I am associating with you.

Dear Srila Gurudev, Gurudev on this Vyaspuja occasion I would also like to mention that with your blessings and permission Please accept my most humble obeisances. I have got engaged to a humble girl and will be All glories to Srila Jayadvaita Swami! getting married soon. Please bless us so we can All glories to Srila Prabhupada! keep Krishna in the centre during our Grahastha life. I know I am trying to be greedy but I do not feel When I think of writing my offering on very guilty while asking for blessings so that with great auspicious day of your Vyas Puja Srila Gurudev, first

84 85 faith and determination I can take advantage of the Sincerely, Thank You for everything dear Gurudev. mercy and fulfil the meaning of my spiritual name. There are no words that could ever describe Your wondrous glories. Thank you my beloved eternal spiritual master, guide and friend. Please accept this small offering from the most insignificant person. Your eternal Servant, Your aspiring servant, Tuñöa Kåñëa Däsa Ubrie

Ubrie Vasudeva Däsa Dearest Gurudev, Dear Maharaj, Please accept my most humble obeisances. All glories to You on this most auspicious day of Please accept my obeisances. All glories to Srila Your Vyasa Puja. Prabhupäda.

Thank You dear Gurumaharaja, for helping me so Every day I bow down multiple times and offer much on my path back to Krishna. prayers, but mostly in a mechanical fashion. Like a skilful surgeon, You cut out all my deeply How often do I reflect on the meaning of bowing rooted anarthas and help me recover from the down, which is to give up my own conceptions onslaught of this material world. of what is good for me, and to take shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead‘s instructions as I feel most fortunate to have Maharaja’s association the only source of all good fortune. and to be able to serve You. I feel so much protected under Your shelter. But why is there still reluctance in my heart when I bow down? I think Srila Prabhupäda sums it up Thank You Maharaja for teaching and showing me well with the words „causeless unwillingness for what the ACTUAL goal of life is. serving the Absolute and all souls.“ (Vyäsa-pujä You have always been so caring towards me and lecture,1936) always encouraging me to be a better person… to be more Krishna Conscious. It is my rebellious, prideful, everlasting attachment to the sense that I am good (or, in the ultimate I don’t even want to think about where I would sense, I am God), and in no need to submit or serve be at this moment, if it weren’t for Maharaja’s anyone else. dedication towards my spiritual growth. Vyäsa-pujä offers a special opportunity to rectify I am surely eternally indebted to Maharaja! this deeply -rooted, mistaken mentality. We not

86 only bow down our spiritual master, but what Absolute and all souls.“ (Vyäsa-pujä lecture given by He represents: the Brahmä-Madhva-Gaudiya Srila Prabhupäda in 1936) Sampradäya, and ultimately the Supreme Lord Caitanya. Your life is the example of someone who has consistently bowed down to the Supreme will. By yadyapi ämära guru—caitanyera däsa that supreme will you have taken on the sacrifice tathäpi jäniye ämi täìhära prakäça of guiding those who are causelessly unwilling, yet are somehow trying to become willing. This Although I know that my spiritual master is a servitor is a thankless task, as unwillingness is so often of Çré Caitanya, I know Him also as a plenary predominant in the conditioned souls. manifestation of the Lord. (Ädi 1.44) As situations and people come and go in life, I By offering our obeisances to the spiritual master, am realizing more and more that, beyond being we offer obeisances to Lord Caitanya. This is the my spiritual master, you are my ever well-wishing antidote to our proud and offensive mentality, as friend. It is that personal touch which is gradually advocated by Lord Caitanya: conquering my unwillingness to bow down. Therefore, more than anything else, let me bow “I shall accept the sannyäsa order of life, for thus down out of love and gratitude, and in that spirit people will offer Me their obeisances, thinking of take upon my head whatever instructions I have Me as a member of the renounced order. Offering received from you. obeisances will relieve them of all the reactions to their offenses. Then, by My grace, devotional Your servant, service [bhakti] will awaken in their pure hearts. All the unfaithful rogues of this world can be delivered Vasudeva Däsa by this process. There is no alternative. This is the essence of the argument.” (Ädi 17.265-267) Vasumän Däsa By bowing down our hearts become purified of offenses. Our causeless unwillingness is subdued, Dear Guru Maharaja! and the auspicious inclination to serve the Supreme Lord is awakened. Then the path back to Godhead Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus opens: feet! All glories to You! All glories to Jayadvaita swami! „The Äcärya‘s Message is to take us back to our original home, back to God. Let me repeat, nama om visnu-pádáya krsna prestháya bhú-tale therefore, that we should hear him patiently, srímate kadamba kánana svámin iti námine follow him in the measure of our conviction, and bow down at his lotus feet for releasing us from nama om visnu-pádáya krsna-prestháya bhú-tale our present causeless unwillingness for serving the guru dasa jayadvaita svámin iti námine

87 What are you teaching me as my a spiritual asking for a particle of dust from your lotus feet. master? What do you expect from me? Your insignificant servant, Am I somehow helping you with your service to spread the Prabhupada‘s movement? Vasumän Däsa Do I strictly follow the instructions you are giving me through your lectures full of profound transcendental knowledge? Viñëupriyä Devé Däsé When I think about this things my false ego and false pride start to diminish. nama om visnu-pádáya krsna prestháya bhú-tale srímate kadamba kánana svámin iti námine I can see how miserable every alternative is in comparison to trying to be your humble servant.I My dearmost Guru Maharaja. know that I really want to become a devotee I have to surrender unto you, because only by The most expected Vyasa-puja is getting closer. I am your mercy I can attain the platform of devotional looking forward to that day when I will personally service. see you again very much. I am looking forward that I will be able to get a lot of positive energy and I remember a story from this south indian wisdom that I need so much in the fight with the devotee brahmana who was completely illiterate. witch Maya. My biggest life achievement was that I Every day he was reading from Bhagavat-Gita, got to know Krsna and you as his representative on although he could not understand any word. Just Earth. Thanks to your great mercy, sensitivity and because he was following the instruction from his love I can get some of that great nectar too. spiritual master he had become completely purified. The advancement in Krsna consciousness does not Thank you very much for everything that you have depend on any material thing or qualification. done for me so far.

I have neither material nor spiritual qualification Dear Guru Maharaja, you are my great inspiration that‘s why I‘m very grateful to you Guru Maharaja and the one who gives me great determination for giving me the chance to render some and strength on my path of devotion. I am very insignificant service to you. happy that I thanks to your mercy can pay my deep obeisances on your and our most beautiful day of I‘m proud that I have the most wonderful master your Vyasa puja. always radiating pure love of Godhead and always shining with transcendental happiness that is With great love and respect I am paying my spreading all around and affecting our hearts. obeisances.

Dear Guru Maharaja , I will be happy to serve Your faithful servant, you as a submissive dog, who is running after you, Viñëupriyä Devé Däsé

88 Viçvambara Caitanya Däsa because of the lack of communication from my side, I wanted to confess that my approaching Dear Kadamba Kanana Swami, Dear Gurumaharaj you as my spiritual master was also based on the fact that I feared to choose someone that would Please accept my obeisances, all glories to not interfere drastically with my personal desires Jayadvaita Swami, all glories to Srila Prabhupada. and purify me at a faster pace than I thought I can handle, than the pace my parents set. Your respect Last year when I wrote you an offering I wasn’t for my father, with whom I have a rather familiar yet your initiated disciple. Yet I looking back relationship, reassured me of this. Of course your at the offering I was impressed by my genuine fearlessness, your transcendental vision along side attempt to please you with it. This year I feel more with some Dutch frankness remained scary to me. disconnected, even though I have received so many As you said once in a lecture, that sannyasis are of interactions with you. This goes to show how it is an intense breed, which they all have in common no about quality and not quantity. matter what the outer coat displays. I do not regret choosing you, not the least, I repent the fear I had. I want to be part of the quality amongst your I would like to tell you I surrender unto your desires disciples and not the quantity. Now I can say I have with more confidence than before. I would like you completed the first of the three instructions the to do with me what you desire. Even though I have following verse delineates. made it so difficult for you to do so. SO many lives have I lived where fear has dictated my life’s course, tad viddhi praëipätena I would like to give this one a different twist to it. paripraçnena sevayä upadekñyanti te jïänaà I am aware how to please you. All that is left is to jïäninas tattva-darçinaù remind myself constantly and act upon it. (4.34) Your disciple, Approach a spiritual master, inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. I feel sad Viçvambara Caitanya Däsa for having done very little towards rendering service unto you and inquiring from you submissively. I haven’t even been able to keep up my monthly Yamunä Devi Däsé reports. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Yet your person, keeps me motivated. Also the daily All glories to Jayadvaita Maharaja! excerpts from your lectures that are sent out from All glories to you! your blog to all the subscribers has become my daily lectures lately. Last few years I was travelling wherever you were in Europa. This year is different to me. Many things

Since this offering serves also as communication changed. I couldn’t travel so much. First I was said, but now is different.

89 By receiving these names I remembered what Sacinandana Maharaja said: You also receive the blessings of „ Sometimes the weather is cold and rainy, and The person. sometimes is sunny and warm.“ He said: „When the weather is cold and rainy I do remember that we My dear Maharaja Yudhisthira, should create our own weather.“ When the weather I have been wanting to write to you in my life become cold and rainy and when I feel For some time. separation from you, I remember that I need to You are Dharma Raja, create my own weather. Forever the embodiment Of righteous conduct Then I see... Based on spiritual realization.

“... You are putting your turban on your head. At the Raja Suya sacrifice Checking with Uddhava for the sound and looking You offered the first respect if all of us are there. And few minutes later many To Lord Krishna, thousand people get mercy from Lord Caitanya Who was present in your assembly. Mahaprabhu...” After the battle of Kuruksetra Having attained victory by the grace of the Lord Thank you dear Guru Maharaja for teaching us by And being rightfully installed example. As the emperor of the world, A heirloom from your father, And I‘m so happy that you are my Gurudeva. Still you mourned for the death of your enemies And harbored thoughts Your servant, Of shamefulness.

Yamunä Devi Däsé Following the departure of Lord Krishna From the earthly realm, Having duly coroneted Yudhiñöhira Däsa Your nephew, The son of Uttara, on the throne The blessing of a name (Reflections on my initiation For the sake of and the mercy of guru) The spiritual welfare of the future world, You entered the renounced order of life, My dear spiritual master Leaving behind your chaste wife Offered me And your inseparable brothers. The name They followed you Yudhisthira dasa, Without hesitation “The servant of he who never tells a lie”, To the Himalayas, And he said at my initiation that But even as they These names are not ordinary.

90 91 Perished on the path behind you, Find strength You did not look back, And forbearance Keeping always a steady pace, To overcome Your mind one pointedly focused The cruelty of material relations, On the supreme Destination. The enmity from asura society, The bondage of false identifications, Eventually, And maybe most of all, You attained The courage to choose The spiritual world The devotional path In your selfsame body. Above all other considerations And never look back. My dear Yudhisthira Maharaja, You gave me the blessing of your name, Yudhiñöhira Däsa Extended through the medium Of my spiritual master. I do not presume To know your intentions, However, I honestly wish To imbibe A tiny particle of Your devotion and unflinching dedication To the Supreme Truth, Sri Krishna.

Unfortunately, I am not of any royal ancestry. I am not in any way important. Still, I am greatly impressed by your Life story As recounted in the scriptures. And having been trusted, By the mercy of my spiritual master, To take part in your Lord’s sankirtan mission, An extension of your rule In this age of quarrel, I pray that you Kindly help me

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